UPDATE 3 (FINAL): Southern Vancouver Island wildfire declared ‘Under Control’

UPDATE 3 (FINAL): Thursday, August 8, 2024 @ 5:20 a.m.: The wildfire that was discovered on July 22 approximately 15 kilometers west of Victoria — which had cast an orange hue to the skies in recent weeks — has been declared “under control” by the BC Wildfire Service.

The fire is under control, but not fully extinguished. Firefighter crews and aviation resources will be working at the scene for the days and weeks to come.

UPDATE 2: Friday, August 2, 2024 @ 3:40 a.m.: The status of the “Old Man Lake” wildfire approximately 15 kilometers west of Victoria has been downgraded to “Being Held” by BC Wildfire Service.

“Being Held” is one classification step away from “Under Control.”

There are currently 323 active wildfires burning in British Columbia. By acreage, this the the fourth largest wildfire season in British Columbia modern history. All of the other worst wildfire seasons in BC have occurred in the past decade.

The province’s legendary firefighting service reports a total of 241 wildfires have been extinguished in the past seven days; 52 in the past 24 hours. Four new wildfires have started in the past 24 hours.

UPDATE: Thursday, July 25, 2024 @ 4:40 p.m.: The “Old Man Lake” wildfire approximately 15 kilometers west of Victoria doubled in size to 169 hectares in the past 24 hours. Depending on wind direction, smoke from this fire has reached the San Juans in recent days.

ORIGINAL STORY: Wednesday, July 24, 2024@ 2:18 p.m.: Smoke from wildfires in the region has been increasingly visible in the San Juans since the weekend.

The closest wildfire is currently located on Southern Vancouver Island, approximately 15 kilometers west of the Victoria metro area.

That fire, named the “Old Man Lake” fire, was discovered On Monday, July 22. So far, 80 hectacres have burned, and it is still spreading. It is located just east of Sooke River. The fire, currently classified as “out of control,” is being fought by Coastal Fire Centre.