Control lines are holding on the East Redonda Island wildfire at the head of Pendrell Sound.
First reported on August 24, the fire has grown to 200 hectares. As of Thursday, September 6, 13 firefighters, including members of the Powell River Initial Attack crew, and two helicopters were working on control line maintenance by building a handline and sprinkler line.
“The control line is holding,” said BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) communication assistant, Dorthe Jakobsen. “The fire did try to cross over but we caught it.”
The suspected cause of the wildfire is human but it does not currently pose a risk to safety or infrastructure, according to BCWS and BC Parks.
East Redonda is located 40 kilometres northwest of Powell River between Homfray Channel and Pendrell Sound at the entrance to Toba Inlet. The conservation area is principally for forestry research in first and second-growth forest stands.
The ecological reserve is under the management authority of BC Parks. The fire management plan for the reserve states, “In circumstances where public safety and other designated values are not at risk, BC Parks and the ministry of forests staff will evaluate wildfires, at the initial attack stage, in allowing the fire to burn naturally. The use of chemicals and heavy equipment will not be permitted within the reserve.”
BC Parks allowed the Pendrell Sound fire to burn naturally for one day before it escalated from 15.5 hectares to 30 hectares and a crew was sent back in.
Pendrell Sound wildfire timeline:
August 24: Wildfire reported on East Redonda Island near the head of Pendrell Sound. Suspected cause: Human.
August 27: 15.5 hectare fire burns out of control; BCWS crew of five members sent in to establish control lines.
August 28: Wildfire grows to 45 hectares and BC Parks makes decision to let the fire burn.
August 29: Wildfire doubles in size to 110 hectares and a crew of five, along with one helicopter, work on fire control lines.
September 4: Wildfire is 200 hectares. 13 firefighters and two helicopters work to control wildfire with handlines and sprinkler lines.
