Smoke was clearly visible from Nanaimo on Monday, Aug. 17 as a small wildfire was quickly dealt with by fire centre crews. (submitted/Rose Marie Snow)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

SNUFFED OUT

Early reporting, quick response by fire crews has Mt. Benson fire under control

Aug 18, 2020 | 10:11 AM

NANAIMO — Quick acting crews successfully knocked down a small brush fire on Mt. Benson.

First reported Monday afternoon, Coastal Fire Centre crews quickly surveyed the scene and were able to attack the fire early.

Dorthe Jakobsen, fire information officer, told NanaimoNewsNOW an initial attack crew combined with helicopters were able to get the area secure.

“We want to get these reports of fire when the fires are small and then our crews are very good at getting out there quickly and getting them under control,” Jakobsen said.

The fire had singed 0.6 hectares of land on the north side of Mt. Benson by Monday night, however did not grow overnight.

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With it listed as ‘under control’ by the fire centre, crews do not expect it to grow under current conditions. Rain in the forecast later in the week has provided more comfort.

Lightning is the listed cause for the Mt. Benson fire, along with 14 others on central and southern Vancouver Island.

A sizeable wildfire continues to burn at Meade Creek, north of Lake Cowichan. The fire reached six hectares by Tuesday morning.

“Meade Creek has access issues for our crews but we currently have 17 firefighters, two helicopters and two water tenders working to suppress that fire,” Jakobsen said.

Another cluster of fires has crews busy near Sooke, including an out of control blaze on Mt. Healey.

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