Wildfire burning near Ladysmith, B.C. now being held

A wildfire burning just 4.5 kilometres from the Vancouver Island community of Ladysmith is now being held according to the BC Wildfire Service.

The Mount Hayes wildfire is estimated at 73 hectares in size, and has forced the evacuation of a FortisBC LNG site and prompted evacuation alerts for 20 other rural properties.

Early Sunday, wildfire officials said significant portions of the fire had burned to firefighters’ control lines and been contained.

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By Sunday afternoon, they said it had formally been classified as “being held,” meaning it had been suppressed enough that it was unlikely to spread any further under expected weather conditions.

As of Sunday, 56 firefighters, three helicopters and 12 pieces of heavy equipment were working the fire.

23:32 FOCUS BC: Federal political candidates talk on wildfires and climate change in B.C.