Sparked on Monday, Aug. 11, the Mount Underwood fire located near the China Creek Campground south of Port Alberni is currently burning out of control at over 800 hectares in size as of Tuesday morning. (BC Wildfire Service)

By Jordan Davidson

large fire

Fast-growing wildfire south of Port Alberni swells in size, evacuations ordered

Aug 12, 2025 | 9:33 AM

UPDATE: 1:30 p.m. — The Mount Underwood wildfire is now 1,391 hectares in size and remains burning out of control, and is now the only wildfire of note in the province.

UPDATE: 12:00 p.m. — An evacuation order has been issued for the Mount Underwood area, affecting Electoral Areas of Bamfield and Cherry Creek, with the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD) declaring a local state of emergency.

Anyone in this area must leave immediately, with a 24-hour reception centre set up at the Alberni Athletic Hall (3727 Roger St., Port Alberni).

More information can be found here at Emergency Info BC, the ACRD Emergency Program Facebook page, the BC Wildfire Service, and DriveBC.

holiday campaign

'Overwhelming number of sober drivers:' Nanaimo RCMP pleased with impaired driving checks

12h ago

increased need

'That's a real concern:' rising B.C. food bank usage resonates in Nanaimo

19h ago

above and beyond

Long-time Qualicum Beach volunteer awarded for lifetime of giving back

Dec 07, 2025

9:20 a.m. PORT ALBERNI — Hours after a wildfire burning for over 11 days on Vancouver Island was considered ‘being held’, another wildfire has sparked south of Port Alberni, rapidly growing in a short period of time.

The Mount Underwood wildfire, located near the China Creek Campground, sparked late in the afternoon on Monday, Aug. 11, and was already at 859 hectares as of 10:00 a.m. Tuesday morning, up from 630 hectares reported late Monday evening.

The wildfire has already led to the evacuation of the China Creek Campground and Marina, located about 15 kilometres south of Port Alberni.

ACRD chair and Huu-ay-aht chief councillor John Jack said as a result of the fire, power is likely only to last for the next three days.

He noted there will be traffic implications as well.

“Bamfield Road is going to be closed from the Port Alberni side indefinitely, and they are currently having a discussion about what traffic will look like coming from the other directions. They’re not cut off per se, but they are technically industrial roads, and therefore the access is being discussed between the various stakeholders.”

An update on the fire is expected from the BC Wildfire Service on Tuesday afternoon.

The fire’s cause is under investigation.

Large plumes of smoke are visible throughout the Alberni Valley area as a result of the large blaze.

The China Creek Campground and Marina was evacuated on Monday evening as the Mount Underwood wildfire grew rapidly overnight. (BC Wildfire Service)

The new wildfire was sparked hours after the Wesley Ridge wildfire, burning north of Cameron Lake since July 31, was given the ‘being held’ designation on Tuesday, at 588 hectares in size.

The Wesley Ridge fire did not grow overnight, according to the BC Wildfire Service, and is no longer considered a wildfire of note.

As of 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug 12, there are 97 active wildfires in B.C., seven of which started in the last 24 hours.

Smoke could be seen billowing from the Mount Underwood fire from Port Alberni on Monday. (Carl Ollech)

— with files from Dave Wiwchar, 93.3 FM The Peak & The Canadian Press.

Subscribe to our daily news wrap. Local news delivered to your email inbox every evening. Stay up to date on everything Nanaimo and Oceanside.

info@nanaimonewsnow.com

Follow us on: Twitter (X) | Bluesky | Facebook