The road is seen closed at the Bamfield Main due to the Mount Underwood wildfire south of Port Alberni, B.C., on Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025. The Transportation Ministry says the road has reopened as of Oct. 24. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

By The Canadian Press

Police say one person arrested after wildfire sparked in Kelowna, B.C.

Oct 24, 2025 | 1:07 PM

Police in Kelowna, B.C., say one person has been arrested in relation to a wildfire sparked on a mountain slope in the southern Interior city on Friday.

RCMP say the person remained in custody as crews worked to douse the flames on Knox Mountain, but they released no further details.

The Mounties say the investigation is ongoing, and they’ve asked the public to stay away from the area until the fire is out.

While the BC Wildfire Service issued a bulletin earlier this month saying the peak of the fire season had passed, its website shows there are still about 90 blazes considered active across the province.

The main road for a Vancouver Island community and First Nation has meanwhile reopened following a months-long closure due to wildfire damage.

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A statement from the Transportation Ministry says the public may now use Bamfield Main Road, which connects Bamfield and the nearby First Nation on the west coast to the rest of Vancouver Island.

The ministry says additional daytime closures will be announced in the coming weeks to allow crews to finish work along a 1.5-kilometre stretch.

It says the work to ensure that the road could be safely reopened included the removal of hazardous trees and repair of fire-damaged areas along the route.

It adds that a new weather station has been installed to monitor wind and precipitation levels, providing data to help guide decisions about closures during severe weather.

The ministry says emergency gates have also been installed at both ends of the affected stretch of road to allow for prompt closures when necessary, along with signage for drivers.

The Mount Underwood fire triggered evacuation orders, cut power for residents and forced the closure of the road in August before BC Wildfire crews brought it under control.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2025.

Brenna Owen, The Canadian Press