Overview

• BC Wildfire Service crews have shifted to perimeter mop-up and hotspot extinguishing, with 144 to 160 personnel working to prevent flare-ups as warmer, drier conditions return later this week.
• Recent rainfall of about 36 millimetres lowered fire behaviour to mainly rank one smouldering with some surface flames, improving access for ground teams.
• Two evacuation orders and three alerts remain in place, and Port Alberni’s mayor says roughly 50 evacuated residents will get an update soon, after earlier evacuations also included about 150 campers and visitors.
• BC Hydro reports 56 poles destroyed and roughly 70 spans of line to restring, has installed 15 poles and 11 spans so far, and targets power restoration by Aug. 30 despite rugged terrain slowing work.
• Environment Canada issued a special air quality statement for localized smoke near Port Alberni, and active wildfires across B.C. have fallen to about 60 after the weekend rain.