Officials urge boaters to stay off lakes near raging wildfire on Vancouver Island

Source: CBC

Officials are urging boaters to stay off lakes near a raging wildfire on Vancouver Island that has prompted evacuation orders for people on hundreds of properties.

The Wesley Ridge wildfire has grown to an estimated 389 hectares, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) and is among nearly 150 wildfires burning around the province. It is suspected to have been caused by human activity.

At a news conference on Sunday, fire information officer Madison Dahl said 142 personnel were responding to the fire on the north banks of Cameron Lake, about 50 kilometres northwest of Nanaimo. That city, with a population of about 120,000, is about 90 kilometres northwest of Victoria.

The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) said 393 mostly residential properties are under evacuation order, which means residents are required to leave immediately.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-wildfires-nanaimo-cameron-lake-lytton-aug-2-1.7600789