British ColumbiaA wildfire near Port Alberni, B.C., that spurred evacuations and a state of local emergency last week has been downgraded again, leaving the province without any wildfires of note.Province currently has no wildfires of note, although it warns temperatures are about to ramp up againThe Canadian Press · Posted: Aug 22, 2025 2:52 PM EDT | Last Updated: 4 hours agoThe Mount Underwood wildfire near Port Alberni, B.C., is seen at night from the Canal Main Forestry Road, from across the Alberni Inlet on Aug. 13, 2025. (Mike McArthur/CBC)A wildfire near Port Alberni, B.C., that spurred evacuations and a state of local emergency last week has been downgraded again, leaving the province without any wildfires of note.The B.C. Wildfire Service said the Mount Underwood fire lost fire-of-note status on Thursday, meaning it was no longer “especially visible” or posing a threat to public safety, after it was doused by 40 millimetres of rain over the past week.The service had announced a day earlier that the fire was being held, meaning it was not expected to spread beyond its current 35-square-kilometre size.The wildfire service said in a statement that the last time the province was without any fires of note was between July 10 and 30. It said the classification is based on its impact on the public and has no bearing on resourcing.A section of the Mount Underwood wildfire on Aug. 15, 2025. Most of the fire was reduced to smouldering flames after it rained on Friday, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service. (B.C. Wildfire Service)The Mount Underwood fire had aggressive growth in its initial days after being discovered on Aug. 11, forcing the sudden evacuation of a nearby campground and leading to several other evacuation orders and alerts.Most of those have now been lifted, but the road between Port Alberni and nearby Bamfield remains closed, and communities say they are facing challenges getting propane needed for generators because some truck drivers are refusing to use an alternative forestry road.The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council said on Wednesday that the closure put at risk the water system for the Ditidaht community, since it is powered by propane, and gas deliveries along an alternative logging road had been refused.John Jack, chairman of the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, who is also chief councillor for the Huu-ay-aht First Nation, said work was being done on the alternate route to make it safer for larger vehicles.”That is something where that is probably more of a question for the willingness of the propane trucks to actually traverse that route,” he told the Canadian Press. “I know that some drivers are not comfortable with that. And I think it just comes down to, ‘What are the things we can do to ensure that happens regularly?'”B.C. Hydro ahead of schedule The fire destroyed about six kilometres of B.C. Hydro lines, and the utility said Thursday that more than 500 customers remained without power.B.C. Hydro said Thursday it was making good progress on restoring power to the area and may be able to complete the work a few days earlier than the original projected goal of Aug. 30.Provincial power supplier B.C. Hydro says work began on Saturday to replace 56 power poles and restring around 20 kilometres of power line damaged by the Mount Underwood wildfire. (B.C. Hydro/Facebook)Jack said residents near the fire are relieved there’s “light at the end of the tunnel,” but remain frustrated by the road closure.”I think it’s important for every community to understand that this can happen anywhere, that emergency situations can cut off access or power for extended periods of time,” he said while also reiterating the importance of neighbourhoods and households having resources on hand to make it through at least 72 hours without power.He said the regional district is considering asking the province for relief for income lost by businesses forced to close during the fire.The Mount Underwood wildfire is now classified as being held. Grateful to all the crews who have worked and continue to work to protect people and communities.🔗 https://t.co/lgAyLUFtgy#BCWildfire pic.twitter.com/MvBHIsaXRl—@rparmar_BCIn a post on social media, Forests Minister Ravi Parmar said he was grateful to fire and emergency crews who worked to protect communities close to the fire.About 60 active wildfires are burning across B.C., including two burning out of control. Those are both in remote parts of northeastern B.C., and no evacuation orders or alerts are associated with them. Warming and drying trendThere is now a prolonged warming and drying trend across the province, the B.C. Wildfire Service said in its latest provincial situation report.It says sunny skies, increased temperatures and lower relative humidity are forecast with the heating and drying trend continuing over the weekend and into next week. Temperatures over the weekend could reach into the high 30s across the south and mid to upper 20s across the north, the service said.It is warning that the hot, dry weather and lack of precipitation could cause forest fuels to “dry out quickly and become more susceptible to ignition.”
Vancouver Island wildfire downgraded again, no longer a fire of note
