Firefighters fought, and were able to contain, a rural fire that threatened the Extension area south of Nanaimo last night.
The fire was detected half a kilometre southwest of the Extension department fire hall on Bramley Road on Friday, June 23 at about 5:30 p.m., according to Kevin Young, Extension fire chief.
The fire was on Mosaic Forest Management land and firefighting efforts were hampered due to geographical layout, he said, as it was on a deactivated road and firefighters had to travel out of district and gain access off of Nanaimo Lakes Road.
Approximately 20 firefighters from Extension Fire Department were on scene with a tender, pumper and bush truck. The Coastal Fire Centre’s initial attack crew deployed from Errington with two helicopters, and Mosaic had a tanker with personnel as well.
Winds picked up at about 7 p.m., which was cause for concern, Young said, and the fire came within 300 metres of a property on Muzwell Hill Road.
“It was difficult,” he said. “It was in steep terrain and thick brush, moving aggressively towards the community of Extension, rock bluffy areas with steep cliffs on one side, so very, very inaccessible. We had to utilize about 300 to 400 feet of hose through the brush. We couldn’t get our apparatuses very close.”
Coastal Fire Centre took over after the fire was contained at about 9 p.m. last night, said Young. The cause of the fire is not known and is under investgation.
“There’s going to be smoke lingering in there for the next 24 to 48 hours throughout the valley … it’s being actively monitored.”
The fire covered an area of approximately one hectare. A campfire and open fire ban is in place for the area.
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karl.yu@nanaimobulletin.com
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