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2d ago

Evacuation Orders Eased After Rain Calms Mount Underwood Fire

Rain-cooled conditions allowed officials to ease some evacuation measures.

A burned section of forest from the Mount Underwood wildfire is seen in this handout photo, southwest of Port Alberni, B.C., on Monday, Aug. 18, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout- BC Wildfire Service (Mandatory Credit)
BC Hydro crews working to restore power to a Vancouver Island community after a wildfire destroyed power poles and lines.
A wildfire burns on Mount Underwood near Port Alberni, Canada, on August 12, 2025
A wildfire burns on Mount Underwood near Port Alberni, Canada on August 12, 2025

Overview

  • The ACRD lifted orders for China Creek Campground and Headquarters Bay, which are now on alert, and ended alerts for Port Alberni’s Cameron Heights and the Tseshaht reserves.
  • After weekend rain, including 8 mm Tuesday, behaviour dropped to mostly Rank 1–2; the out-of-control fire sits near 36 square kilometres and is not expected to grow as crews mop up hotspots.
  • About 160 personnel, helicopters and heavy equipment are working the perimeter, with access improving as cooler, wetter weather tamps down open flame.
  • BC Hydro confirmed 56 poles destroyed and roughly 70 spans to restring and is targeting Aug. 30 to restore power, with crews rebuilding across rugged terrain.
  • The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council reports four nations are directly affected, with propane delivery problems threatening Ditidaht’s generator-powered water system, while the Bamfield–Port Alberni route remains partly closed and localized smoke may affect nearby communities.