UPDATE: 25 firefighters, 2 helicopters contain wildfire near Nanaimo Lakes

NANAIMO — More than 20 firefighters and two aircraft have contained a sizable wildfire near Nanaimo Lakes.

Gene Drew, regional wildfire coordination officer for the Coastal Fire Centre, said the blaze grew to about 10-hectares (24-acres) in size after it was reported around 5 p.m. Sunday, July 1.

He said it’s located about half-a-kilometre from Nanaimo River Rd., along Rush Creek near Third Lake.

“It had no growth overnight. It’s currently just a smouldering ground fire, which is like a rank 1 burning intensity,” Drew told NanaimoNewsNOW.