By Ian Holmes

Investigators say Nanaimo brush fire person-caused

Sep 14, 2017 | 4:53 PM

NANAIMO — A small brush fire behind the Nanaimo Visitor Centre off the Parkway late Wednesday afternoon was human-caused.

That determination from Nanaimo Fire Rescue inspector Kevin Lillingston, who told NanaimoNewsNOW it’s suspected the blaze was caused by a poorly discarded cigarette.

Nanaimo Fire Rescue chief Karen Fry said conditions remain tinder dry, despite a recent shift in weather conditions.

“Even though it feels cooler out our ground is extremely dry and there is quite a bit of wind as well. If a fire or discarded cigarette takes course then it’s going to spread very quickly.”

The fire, about 100 meters behind the Visitor Centre, spread rapidly and scorched a grassy brush area perched on an embankment above Maxey Rd.

rainbow eyes

Nanaimo judge hands old growth logging protestor additional jail time

1h ago

Paris Bound

Nanaimo race walker Olivia Lundman qualifies for Paris Olympic Games

3h ago

CONCENTRATED HOUSING

Single-family builds down in Nanaimo while denser housing units increase

9h ago

Cyclist James Henley, who reported the fire, told NanaimoNewsNOW on scene he noticed a tiny column of smoldering smoke which turned into fast-moving flames in just a few minutes.

Fry said unfortunately cigarettes causing small spot fires around town have been common this summer.

“It’s quite frequent until we started doing a lot more public education on it. People were really diligent back in August.”

Fry noted smoking is banned in all City of Nanaimo parks and walking trails.

The B.C. Wildfire Service still has a campfire ban and extreme wildfire danger rating in place for the mid-island region.

Ian@NanaimoNewsNOW.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes