Wesley Ridge wildfire now ‘held’; some evacuees cleared to return home
BC Wildfire Service has classified the Wesley Ridge wildfire as ‘held.’ The RDN has downgraded an evacuation order to an alert for 257 properties in Little Qualicum River Village; some properties remain under evacuation order.
Live wildfire tracker
Incident V71145 — Wildfire
Emergency officials have begun allowing hundreds of evacuees to return home as the Wesley Ridge wildfire along the north shore of Cameron Lake is now classified as held. The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) downgraded its evacuation order to an alert for 257 properties in Little Qualicum River Village as of 11 a.m. Monday. Some properties remain under evacuation order due to conditions near the ridge line. First reported by CHEK News.
What this means for residents
- If you are on an Evacuation Alert: You may remain at home but should be ready to leave on short notice (24–48 hours). Keep your go‑bag, medications, documents, and pets ready.
- If you are still under an Evacuation Order: Do not return yet. Follow official instructions; check RDN updates for address‑level status.
- Expect intermittent smoke and visible hotspots within the fire perimeter as crews continue mop‑up and patrols.
If you’re returning home
- Drive cautiously; watch for crews, heavy equipment, and aircraft operations.
- Check power, gas, and water where applicable; report hazards (downed lines, damaged infrastructure) to utilities or local authorities.
- Ventilate your home if it smells of smoke. Consider running an air purifier and changing HVAC filters.
- Keep phone alerts on for any changes to orders/alerts.
See live conditions: Open our State of the Island Map with the Wildfires layer enabled — Open the map.
Air quality and travel
Smoke may increase at times as unburned fuels inside the perimeter continue to smoulder. Sensitive groups should reduce strenuous outdoor activity when smoke is present and consider using a portable air purifier indoors. Leave extra time on nearby routes for occasional traffic control related to response operations.
At a glance
- Status: Held (not expected to grow beyond current boundaries under current conditions)
- Size (last reported): ~588 hectares
- Evacuations: Order downgraded to Alert for 257 properties in Little Qualicum River Village; some properties remain on Order
- Effective time: 11 a.m., Monday, Aug. 11, 2025
- Incident number: V71145 (BC Wildfire Service)
Why it matters for the Island
Wildfires shape daily life on Vancouver Island—from smoke and health impacts to highway slowdowns and community disruptions. Today’s change to “held” is a positive step for residents closest to the ridge, but ongoing mop‑up and monitoring will continue. Staying prepared and informed helps protect people, pets, and property as conditions evolve.
Sources
- CHEK News — Wesley Ridge wildfire now considered “held”: cheknews.ca/wesley-ridge-fire-now-considered-as-being-held-by-bc-wildfire-service-1271659
- Regional District of Nanaimo — Current Alerts and Orders: rdn.bc.ca/current-alerts
- BC Wildfire Service — Wildfire Situation Map: wildfiresituation.nrs.gov.bc.ca/map
- BC Wildfire Service — Wesley Ridge incident page (V71145): wildfiresituation.nrs.gov.bc.ca/incidents?fireYear=2025&incidentNumber=V71145
- BC Wildfire Service — Control status definitions (e.g., “Held”): gov.bc.ca — Wildfire control status
- Health guidance for smoke-sensitive groups: HealthLinkBC — Wildfire Smoke
- DriveBC — Traffic advisories near Cameron Lake: drivebc.ca
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Editor’s note: Updated 2025-08-11 at 3:38 p.m. We’ll refresh this story as officials provide new information.