Update 7AM:
The Coastal Fire Centre has update their info for the fire and put the size at 18 Hectares. Have not yet heard about the state of the fire this morning. I will be on CBC Radio Victoria this morning at 7:10 talking heat. Tune in! 🙂
Update 10PM
OK… one more:
Coastal Fire Centre indicates fire in Cedar is smaller than 20 ha estimation from Town of Ladysmith. Sounds like things are stabalizing.
— Ian Holmes (@reporterholmes) July 3, 2015
Here is Town of Ladysmith update page.
Update 9:15PM
I’m going to sign off for tonight. I will update tomorrow morning if there are any new developments or earlier if something major happens. Have a good night and stay safe out there.
Update 9:05PM
https://twitter.com/jthedley/status/616819698387193856
Update 8:41PM
The fire is reported to still be spreading. It is 20 hectares.
FOREST FIRE UPDATE: 8:30 PM: 2015-07-02: Key Points Below.
– The Cause of Fire has been determined and confirmed. It was caused due to wheel bearings overheating in a farmer’s field
– Location: in Cedar B.C. South of Nanaimo, British Columbia. & Near the YCD Nanaimo Airport and the fire extinguisher failed to work.
– Fire Continues to spread: The Fire has now grown from 10 hectares in size to 20 (20 hectares = 49.42 acres) in under an hour, crews are now setting up sprinkler firelines to attempt to stop the spread and damage of the fire to nearby homes.
Update 8:40PM
Update: we still have a working fire in the Cedar rd area. Please stay clear and let the crews safely work. #NOFDfire @BCGovFireInfo
— Fire/Rescue LFR (@Ladysmithfd) July 3, 2015
Update 8:35PM
An update on the Sechelt Fire from the District of Sechelt.
| Forest Fire Outside Sechelt Boundaries Posted 35 minutes ago |
A forest fire was discovered late afternoon on July 2, beyond Mason Road. Although outside the District of Sechelt boundary, first responders were the Sechelt Fire Department. The fire can be viewed from the Porpoise Bay side of the inlet, where smoke can be seen in the vicinity of 4-Mile Point.
5:20 pm – A provincial forest service helicopter with fire response crew has arrived on scene. No homes or infrastructure are being threatened.
6:34 pm – The fire is 2 hectares and ranked level 3 and a helicopter is bucketing water. It is moving toward the inlet. With winds becoming erratic, the situation may change quickly. At this point there are no concerns about evacuations. RCM SAR (Royal Canadian Marine Search & Rescue) will be notifying Carlson Point residents to be on alert.
Update 8:20PM
Local fire crew twitter reports fire is 20 hectares. (Contrary to BCWildfire.ca report!)
Fire at 20 hectares, crews setting up sprinkler firelines. pic.twitter.com/QbwIUCThQS
— NOVFD (@NOVFD_911) July 3, 2015
Update 8:15PM:
Breaking News Nanaimo reports:
“Breaking News Nanaimo 8:10PM Update: We now also have confirmation of the case of the fire: It was caused by a hay baler created a spark and the fire extinguisher did not work.”
Just received this from a reader. Apparently showing a field in Cedar that has been scorched.
Update 8:10PM
Finally appeared on http://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/dmf-viewer/?siteid=5131184402955244847
https://twitter.com/siwgr/status/616802410464284672
Update 7:55PM
Things appear to be settling down. Not hearing any new updates or information about the fire or evacuations spreading, which is good.
12 homes evacuated in rural Yellow point as wildfire consumes farmland. Details on @CHEK_News @ 10. pic.twitter.com/FG4l6H8UmJ
— Skye Ryan (@SkyeRyanCHEK) July 3, 2015
Update 7:40PM
Have heard that the fire at Sarita Bay is now out.
Update 7:35PM
A hopeful tone from someone near the fire. Still nothing has been posted to the BC Wildfire website with details:
@alberniweather @1069thewolf @NanaimoDaily It's by no means a big fire. Authorities incredibly well organised. Looks well under control
— ❌VonHammer (@harryvonhammer) July 3, 2015
Update 7:30PM
Aircraft and crews responding to 2 fires in Coastal Fire Centre – north of Sechelt and south of Nanaimo. #BCWildfire pic.twitter.com/G05ejH9cz2
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) July 3, 2015
Update 7:20PM
From Breaking News Nanaimo. UPDATE 7:20 PM: Homes evacuated as wildfire rapidly spreads near Nanaimo. Homes on west side of Cedar Rd. between Yellow Point & Adshead Road reportedly being evacuated. No details on whether the fire has spread across the highway at this point.
There is also a fire near Sechelt.
#Sechelt fire no longer seems to be growing, but it’s leaving a spectacular smoke plume pic.twitter.com/FYuFn5llh4
— Sean Eckford (@SeanEckford) July 3, 2015
Update 7:15PM
https://twitter.com/jthedley/status/616791091078000641
Update 7:05PM
From Nanaimo Bulleting Facebook Page.
NANAIMO FOREST FIRE UPDATE 7:00PM TOP STORY UPDATE: BREAKING NEWS NANAIMO:
– Homes are being evacuated as crews from multiple districts battle a 10-acre wildfire near the Nanaimo Airport.
– Smoke could be seen billowing into the air in a forested area along Cedar Road as firefighters from Nanaimo, Ladysmith, Chemainus, North Oyster, Cedar and Cranberry try to stop the flames from spreading.
– Homes along the west side of Cedar Road between Yellow Point and Adshed Road are being evacuated as the fire continues to rapidly spread in the hot, dry conditions.
– A woman who lives just outside of the evacuation area said she and her husband noticed the flames at around 4:30 p.m. as they drove to a nearby river.
– “My husband spotted it in the corner of his eye,” said Cassandra Donnelly. “It started small and then it just went from when I posted my first picture, to 10 acres of complete fire.”
– Donnelly estimated that it only took about 20 minutes for it to grow from a small brush fire into a wildfire.
– She said flames are coming dangerously close to homes, possibly within an acre of some.
– “To know it can go that fast and that quickly within 20 minutes is pretty crazy,” she said.
– She said she and her husband were returning to their home on Yellow Point Road to prepare in case they are also given an evacuation notice.
Update 7PM
According to @NanaimoRCMP officer on scene three #fire departments handling fire near @cityofnanaimo
— Karl Yu (@KarlYuBulletin) July 3, 2015
CTV News reports it is a 10 acre fire.
http://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/homes-evacuated-as-wildfire-rapidly-spreads-near-nanaimo-1.2451620
There are a number of fires around the coast right now. Sechelt, Sarita Bay, and now near Nanaimo Airport. Just today.
The fire near Nanaimo Airport is being fought heavily. It has not yet been added to the BC Wildfire website so information is scarce and only coming in via Radio and twitter.
Ladysmith and North Oyster fire are on scene. I will update as more info becomes available.
Ladysmith/Nanaimo fire spreading fast. Could have used the mars to knock it down quick ! @chrisgailus @GlobalBC pic.twitter.com/OhjQldct3G
— D (@TK_kcco) July 3, 2015
https://twitter.com/jthedley/status/616781193485287424
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2 responses to “Serious Wildfire near Nanaimo Airport – Updating with Info”
Thank you so much for all the updates tonight! Great job of keeping everyone informed! 🙂
No problem. 🙂