Approximately 73 hectares of bush land and partially regrown forest burned as a result of the Mt. Hayes wildfire. No cause has been formally identified. (submitted photo/BC Wildfire Service)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

HOLD THE LINE

Mt. Hayes fire ‘being held’ as crews secure perimeter

Aug 23, 2021 | 9:23 AM

NANAIMO — Crews are officially in control of a wildfire burning southwest of Nanaimo airport.

The BC Wildfire Service officially lists the Mt. Hayes wildfire as “being held”, meaning no further growth is expected under current conditions.

“Fire behaviour has been low, mostly smouldering ground fire with a few patches of open flame,” Gordon Robinson, fire information officer, told NanaimoNewsNOW early Monday, Aug. 23.

Focus has turned from actively fighting the fire, to defending against growth.

Firefighters completed a ‘wet line’ on Sunday, Aug. 22, which involved surrounding the 73 hectare fire with a ring of hoses, pumps and bladders which then helped wet a 20 foot wide strip of land around the permiter.

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“They will widen that strip [Monday] as well as removing remaining fuel around control lines,” Robinson said. “After that most of the remaining work will be digging out and wetting down hot spots within the fire perimeter.”

Crews were able to establish a perimeter around the Mt. Hayes wildfire over the weekend, aided by favourable weather. (submitted photo/BC Wildfire Service)

Robinson noted because of the dry conditions, the fire burned deep into the ground so efforts to fully extinguish it will continue for some time.

Smoke is also expected in the area for several days.

Just under 60 firefighters remain on the ground with nine water tenders and three pieces of heavy equipment. Two helicopters continue to work select areas from the air.

A full schedule of flights has resumed at Nanaimo Airport after a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) was put in place, prohibiting daytime flights to create more space for bombers, scout planes and helicopters working the initial outbreak of the fire.

Several helicopters, recon planes and bombers worked the Mt. Hayes fire from above, aiding the work of crews on the ground. (submitted photo/BC Wildfire Service)

Evacuation alerts related to the fire remain in place as of Monday morning.

Twenty properties on Takala Rd., David Rd., and Ivey Rd. were placed on alert on Friday, Aug. 20 while a Fortis BC facility was put on evacuation order as flames came within 1.5 kilometres from an LNG holding tank on the site.

The Fortis BC site was downgraded Sunday evening from an order to an alert by the Cowichan Valley Regional District.

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