Five fire departments fought to contain a fire that affected an 18 to 20-hectare area in Cedar yesterday afternoon.
Ladysmith RCMP said the call came in about 5 p.m., with fire departments, including North Oyster, Cranberry and Cedar, along with about five firefighting aircraft, battling the blaze in an area near Cedar and Hill roads.
“A haycutter accidentally started the fire,” said Staff Sgt. David Herman, officer in charge of the Ladysmith RCMP.
#fire in Cedar, BC, near @cityofnanaimo pic.twitter.com/LB4lCvojhH
— Karl Yu (@KarlYuBulletin) July 3, 2015
Herman said occupants from 12 homes and some livestock were evacuated.
There were no injuries reported and Herman said the Ladysmith Emergency Response Team set up an evacuation centre at Frank Jameson Community Centre as a precautionary measure.
Flo Watson, who owns a farm along Cedar Road in the area of the fire, was amongst the evacuees.
“The neighbours came and took my sheep,” said Watson. “We had to call them into the barn. So we got the sheep moved and I had pups and I had chickens, so we grabbed things ... and ran.”
As of Friday morning, Jason de Jong, North Oyster fire chief, said the fire was about 90 per cent contained.
Residents were allowed to return home, but are still on alert in the event the fire starts up again, according to a press release from the Town of Ladysmith.
Firefighters are continuing mop up work to ensure the fire doesn't re-ignite.