Sooke Potholes Park fire expected to grow on weekend but not pose new risks, officials say
Old Man Lake fire does not pose risk to land or watershed and is not anticipated to: regional district
A fire in a popular park in southern Vancouver Island is expected to grow, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service.
The fire in Sooke Potholes Regional Park, dubbed the Old Man Lake fire, has grown several times, from 0.05 square kilometres when it was discovered Monday to 1.88 square kilometres by Friday morning.
"We will see some minimal growth in that fire as it creeps up the hill," coastal fire centre information officer Kimberly Kelly said during an interview on CBC's All Points West Thursday afternoon.
As of Friday morning, the fire isn't causing any road closures or travel delays. For updated travel info, drivers can visit DriveBC.ca.
As a result of the blaze, Sea to Sea Regional Park and Sooke Potholes Regional Park, as well as the Spring Salmon Place Campground, are closed, according to the Capital Regional District.
The Galloping Goose Trail is also closed just south of the Rodd Creek Trestle, as is the Sooke Potholes Gateway Park, the district says.
The Old Man Lake fire was likely human caused, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service. In B.C., human-caused wildfires are defined as any blaze that isn't caused by lightning.
Kelly said crews are prioritizing the southwest side of the fire.
"We do feel that we are making great progress on the south and west flanks that are closest to community," she said.
No evacuation orders or alerts have been issued in the area as of Friday, nor were they expected officials said.
The growth of the fire can be tracked on the B.C. Wildfire Service website.
The District of Sooke said Friday afternoon it does not expect to post any updates on the fire until Monday.
It also said that based on recent fire behaviour and suppression efforts, it does not expect the fire to damage Greater Victoria watershed lands or impact water quality.
A containment line has been established between the wildfire and the watershed lands, the district said.
The District of Sooke has asked residents to prepare an emergency bag and make an emergency plan, to be ready in the event the fire reaches the community.
Campfires are currently prohibited on Vancouver Island.