Courtenay Fire Department was able to keep a wildfire near Highway 19 from getting out of control on Wednesday morning.
A couple of passing motorists called in to report the incident about 7 a.m. on July 14.
“They could see the white smoke up into the forested area,” deputy fire chief Dennis Henderson said.
The location was near the underpass at Comox Logging Road. The department sent a small brush truck, along with an engine and tanker to respond to the fire, which was estimated to be about five metres square.
“It had gone up into the trees and the foliage underneath,” Henderson said. “It had spread to a pretty good size.”
Firefighters used almost 3,000 gallons to extinguish the fire and were on the scene for about 35 to 45 minutes, but the situation could have been worse had there been winds.
“It’s very dry…. it could’ve been a different story,” he said.
Henderson said they do not know the cause for sure, though the assumption is cigarettes. There were no reports of lightning nearby overnight.
RELATED STORY: Lack of precipitation ‘particularly distressing’ for Valley drought situation
Like many parts of the province, the Comox Valley has been dry in recent weeks, with no precipitation since mid-June.
While the incident did not get out of control, it is a reminder to the public to be even more cautious about any activities that might ignite a fire.
“We just all need to be mindful that there’s over 300 forest fires burning throughout the province, and the Island is not exempt,” Henderson said. “We all have to do our part.”
mike.chouinard@comoxvalleyrecord.com
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