By Ian Holmes

Crews pounce on small forest fire south of Nanaimo

Aug 21, 2018 | 9:35 AM

NANAIMO — Rural crews quickly knocked down a small forest fire south of Nanaimo, preventing its spread during an ongoing extreme fire threat.

Dorthe Jakobsen of the BC Wildfire Service said the fire off White Rapids Rd. was reported Monday evening and quickly attacked by local fire crews. She estimated the fire, in grassy and forested terrain, expanded to 100-by-100 metres in size and appeared to be on Island Timberlands property.

It’s unclear how the blaze started, according to Jakobsen, who said the site will be “monitored for a while” due to the extreme fire threat.

Jakobsen said BC Wildfire Service crews were called to assist, but noted the fire was primarily fought by local departments.

Extension Volunteer Fire Dept. deputy chief Brandon Britt said they responded to the fire, as did Cranberry Volunteer Fire Dept. crews, who worked together to quickly contain and extinguish the flames.

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He said the fire was reported at about 8 p.m. Monday in the Schon Rd. area, off White Rapids Rd.

There have been several fires in the general area south of Nanaimo, including the Nanaimo Lakes Fire, which the BC Wildfire Service lists as currently held at about 450-acres (182 ha).

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes