An evacuation order has been issued for the north side of Cameron Lake after a wildfire was discovered early Thursday.
Affected residents in the area, which includes Chalet Road and Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park at Cameron Lake, are being contacted directly, said the Nanaimo Regional District, which also declared a state of local emergency.
The wildfire is on the north side of Cameron Lake, on the opposite side of the lake from Highway 4, between Port Alberni and Parksville, according to the Coastal Fire Centre.
The B.C. Wildfire Service said the 90-hectare blaze was burning out of control as of 8:30 a.m. on Friday.
The fire is suspected to have been human-caused.
The fire centre said an initial attack crew responded just after midnight on Wednesday, and the blaze is burning “aggressively” in terrain that is difficult to access.
Helicopters and air tankers are responding to the fire.
The Coombs and Dashwood fire departments are helping to put out the fire, and the wildfire service asked drivers on the highway to be “mindful” as crews and aircraft battled the flames.
“Proceed with caution and stay focused on the road and don’t stop the flow of traffic,” said the website.
