A Coastal Fire Centre helicopter is surveying the fire on Mt. Benson, which was noticed late Monday afternoon. (Spencer Sterritt/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Mt. Benson fire

Fire breaks out atop Mt. Benson, Coastal Fire Centre tackling the blaze

Aug 17, 2020 | 5:21 PM

NANAIMO — Coastal Fire Centre crews are battling a fire on Mt. Benson.

Dorthe Jakobsen with the CFC confirmed to NanaimoNewsNOW crews attended the fire after 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 17 after a helicopter did reconnaissance of the scene.

Water helicopters were seen taking water from Brannen Lake and other sources in the Mt. Benson area.

Jakobsen said the crews would fight the 50 by 50 metre throughout the night and into Tuesday. As of Monday evening, the Coastal Fire Centre listed the fire as 0.6 hectares in size.

CFC crews were busy through much of Monday tackling fires sparked by an intense lightning storm Sunday night.

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Lightning is believed to be the cause of not only the Mt. Benson fire, but 14 others in the Lake Cowichan and Sooke areas on Vancouver Island.

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