The Nanaimo region is now under an 'extreme' fire danger rating after a month with minimal precipitation. Two small wildfires were sparked south of the city, but quickly brought under control. (BC Wildfire Service)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

tinder dry

Fire danger ratings pushed to ‘extreme’ for Nanaimo & Oceanside

Jul 31, 2025 | 5:06 AM

NANAIMO — An extended stretch of hot, dry weather is pushing fire danger ratings to their maximum levels.

New data from the provincial government showed eastern Vancouver Island, including Nanaimo, Parksville and Qualicum Beach, under an ‘extreme’ fire danger rating on B.C.’s five-step scale, indicating the area has “extremely dry forest fuels and the fire risk is very serious.”

Coastal Fire Centre information officer Julia Caranci said the fire situation on Vancouver Island is precarious and becomes more challenging each passing day without rainfall.

“We have a higher and higher chance of that when fires start, they can grow more quickly. That is the relationship between fire danger and wildfires, is that in a higher extreme fire danger, a fire that starts is more likely to spread quickly.”

The current fire danger rating for British Columbia, showing eastern Vancouver Island listed as ‘extreme’. (BC Wildfire Service)

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The warning comes ahead of the August long weekend.

Caranci said August is also a time when weather becomes more active in the region, leading to an increase in fire starts.

Lightning is of particular concern.

“We are anticipating the possibility of some instability and lightning over the short-term forecast. While we are possibly seeing a bit of a downturn in the weather coming up on the weekend, we are not likely to see any significant rain or enough of a change of conditions to significantly affect the current fire danger.”

Vancouver Island, along with a majority of the Coastal Fire Centre, is under an open fire ban, which includes a campfire prohibition.

The restrictions are poised to be in place until the end of October, unless rescinded prior.

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