Picture taken on Wednesday, Aug. 6 of the Wesley Ridge fire (BC Wildfire Service)

By Ian Holmes

wildfire response

Charity launches grants to help people impacted Wesley Ridge fire, progress against blaze continues

Aug 8, 2025 | 5:29 AM

QUALIUCM BEACH — Well known non-profit United Way British Columbia vows to delivery funds quickly to those who need it following a large forest fire which has sent hundreds of people from their homes.

Tobias Jones, United way BC’s assistant director of community impact and investment, said their newly launched Wildfire Recovery Fund involves non-profit organizations applying for up to $15,000 each to then be delivered to those in need.

He said the fund, revealed on Wednesday, provides extra support on top of the Emergency Operations Centre established at the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre.

“This wildfire that we’ve seen in Wesley Ridge is a scale of which the Island hasn’t seen before.” Jones told NanaimoNewsNOW. “We thought there was a need to respond to that to support non-profit agencies that we see on the ground who are helping and to raise funds and best direct them to where these needs are.”

Jones said items like gas and food cards, childcare, and mental health supports are examples of what their new grant program can cover.

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Nearly 300 homes are under evacuation order and about 350 other addresses are on evacuation alert, primarily in the western portions of the rural Meadowood subdivision near Little Qualicum Falls in Electoral Area F of the Regional District of Nanaimo.

Interested non-profit providers are invited to apply online.

“We don’t have any close date at the moment on that grant,’ Jones said. “We would encourage agencies to apply, and we review regularly and frequently in order that we get money out into the community as soon as possible.”

Stating their organization has established this fund for other parts of the province during previous fire events, Jones said sometimes longer-term gaps exist beyond immediate needs people impacted by nearby forest fires face.

“We’re a legitimate fund that is well supported and we have thorough processes in place to ensure the money is going to where it’s needed.”

Progress continues in fighting Wesley Ridge fire

A joint media briefing between the BC Wildfire Service and Regional District of Nanaimo relayed further positive news in combating the large forest fire burning on the hills above the north short of Cameron Lake.

As of Thursday, Aug 7 at noon, the fire was mapped at 571 hectares in size and still burning out of control.

Minimal fire activity was reported overnight, stated Maddison Dahl, fire information officer with the Coastal Fire Centre.

“On the northern edge of the fire, heavy equipment is rapidly establishing guard. Ground crews are using direct attack methods to remove fuel from between the free-burning edge of the wildfire and that guard. Crews are cutting fuel-free lines where the ground is inaccessible for heavy equipment.”

Over 200 firefighting personnel are working the fire as of Thursday, including 14 pieces of heavy equipment, eight helicopters, as well as land-based air tankers and skimmers assigned as required.

Dahl noted a majority of the fire’s growth has been in an area free of structures.

So far, no structures have been lost due to the human-caused fire, which was sparked on the evening of Thursday, July 31.

Residents of 110-125 properties were given clearance to return to their homes on Wednesday evening.

Douglas Holmes, Regional District of Nanaimo CAO and emergency operations director, reported on Thursday he doesn’t know when further evacuation orders could be lifted.

View of the Wesley Ridge Fire from Highway 19 while approaching Qualicum Beach. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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