Nanaimo Fire Rescue responded to a reported grass fire on Hwy. 19 on Tuesday afternoon, one of several human-caused wildfire reports they receive every year. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

PUBLIC AWARENESS

Human-caused wildfires draw concern from central Island firefighters

Aug 26, 2020 | 5:28 AM

NANAIMO — Lightning strikes aren’t the only thing sparking wildfires in the central Vancouver Island region.

Human caused wildfires are frustrating part of the job for local firefighters as they are dangerous and easily preventable.

Nanaimo Fire Rescue have been called out to 113 human-caused fires so far this year, compared to 261 through 2019 and 240 in 2018.

“Unattended fires, cigarettes, matches, smoking materials…in our parks or being discarded from vehicles, those would definitely be our main areas,” Tim Doyle, deputy fire chief, told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Doyle said a cooler, wetter June helped keep numbers at or slightly below average.

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The most recent call out occurred Tuesday, Aug. 24 when a small fire on Hwy. 19 near Aulds Rd. was reported.

Crews attended and discovered a makeshift encampment by the highway.

“Parks, interface areas with displaced people if they’re in an area where it’s a little more concealed and they’re trying to cook or stay warm,” Doyle said.

Firefighting counterparts in Ladysmith have also dealt with their fair share in human-caused fires in recent weeks.

Several human-caused fires near Hwy. 1 attracted the attention of the Coastal Fire Centre during August’s heat wave, however were handled by local crews.

“We live in a beautiful rainforest on Vancouver Island. Thick forest has its beauty, but during this time of year it also has its risks,” Ladysmith Fire Chief Chris Geiger said.

As of Tuesday, Aug. 25, nearly 46 per cent of the province’s 569 wildfires are listed as human caused.

–with files from Kyle Ireland

alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley