View Royal fire chief frustrated by campfire-turned-wildfire in Thetis Lake Park
CTV
Vancouver Island is experiencing one of the worst wildfire seasons in modern history, according to BC Wildfire Service. And nearly every fire this year was human-caused and preventable.
Vancouver Island is experiencing one of the worst wildfire seasons in modern history, according to BC Wildfire Service. And nearly every fire this year was human-caused and preventable.
On Wednesday morning, Capital Regional District park rangers made their way into Thetis Lake Park to mop up what is left of a wildfire that broke out Tuesday afternoon on Seymour Hill.
Paul Hurst, View Royal’s fire chief, is beyond frustrated.
“People are either oblivious to the hazard or they just don’t care,” he said.
The fire was first called in by a Harbour Air crew that happened to be flying over the area -- caused by a careless campfire. It tied up fire crews from Colwood, Langford and View Royal into the night.
“We had four other emergencies during this fire that had to be given to other agencies to deal with,” said Hurst.
A forestry helicopter was called in on standby incase the fire got away from ground crews, taking that critical resource away from other wildfires burning on the island.
