Crews prioritize homes and infrastructure as Wesley Ridge wildfire grows

As the out-of-control wildfire near Cameron Lake continues to grow, fire crews are prioritizing the protection of homes and critical infrastructure as the human-caused Wesley Ridge blaze burns on.

As of the last confirmed update Sunday morning, the wildfire remained at an estimated 389 hectares. Due to thick smoke across the region, fire officials have not been able to reassess the size.

The fire, which ignited on July 31st, is burning in steep terrain with dense timber, posing significant challenges for ground crews.

Between noon and 4:40 p.m. Saturday, the number of properties under evacuation order nearly doubled—from 191 to 393—according to the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN).

An additional 238 properties remain on evacuation alert.

BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) has assigned 67 personnel, seven helicopters, seven pieces of heavy equipment, and multiple air tankers and skimmers to the fire.

Structure protection units and firefighters from several departments across Vancouver Island are also assisting with operations in key areas including Little Qualicum River Village and Park, as well as the northern shore of Cameron Lake.

“Today, operations will continue to prioritize protection of residences, values and critical infrastructure,” BCWS said in a statement Saturday.

Overnight, firefighters used direct attack methods to cool areas near homes and infrastructure. Crews are now working to establish control lines where terrain allows, supported by large-scale water delivery systems and continued aerial suppression efforts.

Several pieces of BCWS equipment have been lost to the flames, but as of this publication, no homes have been reported damaged.

The fire’s south edge remains the most active, burning in rugged and largely inaccessible terrain. Heavy smoke continues to rise from the slopes of Wesley Ridge as the fire consumes available fuels.

Cameron Lake remains closed to recreational watercraft to allow for safe skimming and bucketing by aircraft. The BCWS is also reminding the public that flying drones near an active wildfire is both illegal and extremely dangerous, especially when aircraft are operating in the area.

While Highway 4 is not directly affected by the fire, DriveBC is reporting poor visibility due to smoke along a 42.1-kilometre stretch from Port Alberni to Highway 19, including the area between Beaver Creek Road and the end of the highway.

The fire is suspected to be human-caused, though investigations—led by BCWS, the RCMP, and other agencies—are ongoing and may take time.

Smoke from the fire is expected to drift south throughout the day and could be visible across Greater Victoria. According to firesmoke.ca, the air quality remains at a low-risk level for most of the region, excluding areas closest to the wildfire.

The Wesley Ridge blaze is one of 148 active wildfires currently burning across BC, 29 of which were sparked in the past 24 hours.