Fire sparked on Arbutus Mountain

By Alexandra Mehl

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

PortAlberni, BC - On Thursday,Aug. 3 a wildfire sparked on Mosaic private lands on Tseshaht territory less than two kilometers from their main reserve. The Arbutus Mountain fire spreadto 0.3 hectares and is being held with a ground crew of five personnel working to suppress the blaze.

“Last night was pretty nerve racking,” said Ken Watts, elected chief councillor of Tseshaht. “It was less than two kilometers away from our main community.”

Nick Donnelly, an information officer with the Coastal Fire Center, said that the fire was reported around 6:45 p.m. with immediate response by air and ground crews.

“These crews have done a great job attempting to prevent the fire from spreading.Air crews are unable to continue as the light fades, but ground crews are still actively at work,” reads a statement from Tseshaht in the later evening ofAugust 3.

The statement noted that Mosaic, BC Wildfire Service as well as the Sproat Lake and City of PortAlberni Fire Departments have been working together to keep the Tseshaht community safe.

“At this time, there is no immediate threat to life or structure, and we encourage members to stay calm,” it continued.