Fire crews worked through Saturday night to battle the growing wildfire on Vancouver Island that has led to the evacuation of nearly 400 properties.
The BC Wildfire Service says the fire burning along the challenging terrain on the shore of Cameron Lake measures approximately 3.89 square kilometres, up from the 2.45 square kilometre estimate provided Saturday.
The service says operations about 60 kilometres from the City of Nanaimo are focused on protecting "residences, values and critical infrastructure."
The update says fire departments from across Vancouver Island are contributing to structure defense in the Little Qualicum River Village area and the north side of Cameron Lake.
An evacuation order from the Regional District of Nanaimo covers a total of 393 mostly residential properties, including Little Qualicum Falls Park, and evacuation alerts have been issued for 238 other properties.
The wildfire service says large-scale water delivery systems are being established and heavy equipment is working to create control lines in workable ground.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 3, 2025.
The Canadian Press
