Crews battle growing wildfire 18 kilometres from Sooke

85-hectare blaze on privately managed forest land is out of control, official says

Firefighters continue to battle a growing wildfire at Tugwell Creek outside Sooke, which by Wednesday evening had grown to 85 hectares in size.

As of 5 p.m., the wildfire, burning on privately managed forest land about 18 kilometres northwest of Sooke, was considered out of control with zero containment, said Coastal Fire Centre spokeswoman Dorthe Jakobsen.

The fire had grown considerably since Tuesday, when its size was estimated at four hectares.

“There’s been significant growth [Wednesday] due to sustained winds,” Jakobsen said. “They didn’t drop off as we had hoped.”

The wind tossed hot embers into new areas, meaning the fire is not only in slash but also in felled and bucked timber as well as juvenile and mature standing trees, she said.

The fire has been burning since Monday. Fifty-five firefighters were on the scene Wednesday evening and another 20 were called in to help, Jakobsen said.

Crews used three pieces of heavy equipment, two water tankers, four helicopters and an air tanker group to quell the flames. Two more helicopters were expected to arrive Thursday morning.

“We’re bringing in lots of resources to combat this fire,” Jakobsen said.

Beekeeper Bob Liptrot operates Tugwell Creek Honey Farm and Meadery not far from the blaze.

On Wednesday afternoon, he went to check on his hives, which are about three or four kilometres away from the fire. He said he could see the flames crowning through the trees and travelling up the mountainside.

The smoke was blowing away from his hives at the time, but Liptrot knows the wind could shift in an instant.

“The bees are pretty resilient,” he said. “We’re going to monitor it and see how it goes, but so far, so good.”

Firefighters are also battling a wildfire in the Rush Creek area, about 29 kilometres west of Nanaimo.

The fire, in felled and bucked timber, measured 14.5 hectares and was about 50 per cent contained as of Wednesday evening.