THE
Record TUESDAY, July 7, 2015
Island on fire:
VOLUME 30 | NO. 54
COMOX VALLEY
$1.25
Mudders coming to Mt. Washington ■ 21
Crews battling wildfires near Port Hardy and Port Alberni
■ Scott Stanfield scott.stanfield @comoxvalleyrecord.com
NEWS
Smoke continued to affect the Comox Valley and the entire south coast of B.C. Monday after several forest fires broke out on the weekend. The Tsulquate Creek fire that started Friday near Port Hardy experienced “minimal growth” Sunday, according to the BC Wildlife Service. “The evacuation order has been downgraded to an alert,” Ellie Dupont at the Coastal Fire Centre said Monday. A one-hectare spot fire from a burning ember that was within 400 metres of homes was contained Monday. The larger 16-hectare fire had been 20 per cent contained along the portion closest to the town. “The crews are working to remove fuels from the fire line on the sides that are closest to the community — and there’s a lot of smoke,” Dupont said. “The helicopters, which there are four, will continue bucketing today. Fire behaviour has been decreased to Rank 1, which is smouldering ground.” Another fire that broke out Saturday on Dog Mountain on Sproat Lake near Port Alberni continued to “burn aggressively” Sunday as it neared cabins. It covered about 35 hectares. Retardant dropped by air tankers and water dropped by helicopters slowed the blaze, but cabins at the lake were evacuated. One cabin was burning Monday morning. “We heard overnight that it was lost,” Dupont said. “It had been empty for two to three years apparently.” See FIRES, Page 9
Registration open for YANA Ride The Simon’s Cycles YANA Ride goes Aug. 16 this year. The YANA Ride is a challenging bicycle ride through the Comox Valley with a variety of routes to enjoy including a 25km, 50km and a new 100km loop. It is a big fundraiser for the local charity that helps Comox Valley families who need to travel to access medical treatment for their children. ■ P3
CUPE comes up big for CV Food Bank Members of CUPE (Canadian Union of Public Employees) Local 556 pooled their union dues and contributed 70 cases of tinned wild salmon to the Comox Valley Food Bank on Thursday. ■ P4
ARTS CYMC telling a West Side Story
The Comox Valley Youth Music Centre is taking on one of the most epic musicals ever written, in West Side Story. ■ P19
SPORTS World Spec. Olympics has CV presence
Comox Valley athletes Brad Hogan and Chris Roberge (softball) and Robert Burns (athletics), are ready to represent Canada on the world stage. ■ P23
Fishing ban in effect
■ A Coulson Sikorsky S-61 drops water on the 35 hectare fire raging on Dog Mountain at PHOTO BY KATYA SLEPIAN/ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS Sproat Lake Sunday morning.
The Government of B.C. has announced a Level 4 drought rating for Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, and taken the additional action of suspending angling in streams and rivers throughout southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. ■ P23
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