UPDATE — Aug. 7, 2025: Rainfall has provided a brief respite in the battle against the wildfires in British Columbia, but challenging days lie ahead, as reported by the fire service.
Residents affected by the Wesley Ridge wildfire on Vancouver Island have received some positive news. Douglas Holmes, the emergency operations director for the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN), announced that some residents can return to their homes on Wednesday evening, emphasizing that this return is subject to safety assessments. Although a portion of residents can go back, the majority will remain under evacuation orders for now. The list of properties eligible for re-entry is available on the RDN’s website.
Expressing gratitude for residents’ patience during the emergency, Holmes expressed hope for further relaxation of evacuation orders in the coming days and weeks.
Nearly 390 homes within the Regional District of Nanaimo were under evacuation orders as of Wednesday morning, with an additional 250 properties on evacuation alert, ready to evacuate promptly if necessary. The RDN is expected to provide details on the number of homes with lifted evacuation orders the following day.
The Wesley Ridge fire, spanning approximately 538 hectares on Vancouver Island, continues to burn near Cameron Lake’s north shore, about 50 kilometers northwest of Nanaimo. Fire crews made significant progress on Tuesday in containing the fire, safeguarding nearby residences and the vital Highway 4 corridor linking the island’s east and west coasts.
The B.C. Wildfire Service reported that light rain on Tuesday facilitated expansion of containment efforts, with night-vision helicopters operating along the fire’s perimeter. Fire activity has mainly been a low-vigour surface fire, though some spots exhibited higher burning intensity. Fire information officer Madison Dahl noted reduced fire activity near Wesley Ridge residences and the west Cameron Lake area, attributing this to cooler conditions.
Dahl stressed the importance of public cooperation in staying away from active wildfire zones, including lakes used by helicopters and air tankers for water refilling. Concerns about the fire potentially reaching Cathedral Grove in MacMillan Park, which houses ancient trees, have been addressed by authorities, assuring that the iconic forest is currently not at risk.
Despite the rain offering temporary relief in British Columbia and aiding firefighting efforts, officials cautioned that the province remains in its peak wildfire season. While rain has helped extinguish over 150 fires in the past week, the return of heat is imminent, prompting B.C. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar to urge vigilance and adherence to fire prohibitions.
Cliff Chapman, the B.C. Wildfire Service’s director of provincial operations, explained that the rain’s impact is limited to short-term firefighting benefits, emphasizing that the overall wildfire threat remains high. Chapman highlighted the necessity for continued preparedness and technology investments to combat fires effectively.
In another development, an evacuation order near Lytton was lifted as firefighters managed to control the Cantilever Bar wildfire. Evacuation alerts in surrounding areas were also rescinded, marking progress in containment efforts.
As of Wednesday evening, British Columbia faced around 110 active wildfires fueled by hot and dry weather conditions and numerous lightning strikes.