Some 30 firefighters are battling an out-of-control wildfire on northern Vancouver Island that is suspected to be caused by humans.
The Newcastle Creek fire, roughly 5.6 kilometres west of Sayward, was first reported on Monday and has since grown to about 90 hectares in size.
Air tankers and helicopters have been deployed to battle the blaze, the Strathcona Regional District said Tuesday, but for the moment there is no threat to critical infrastructure or homes.
“Communities in the Strathcona Regional District may be experiencing various levels of wildfire smoke from the Newcastle Creek wildfire in Sayward,” reads a news release.
“It is an important health concern for our region as it is a complex mixture of air pollutants.”
The Village of Sayward and Strathcona Regional District have opened an emergency operations centre. The district is encouraging residents to sign up for its alerts, where updates will be shared.
On Tuesday, Environment Canada issued a special air quality statement for the region, which are likely to be impacted by smoke for the next two days.
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It advised residents to drink lots of water. Those with lung disease, older adults, children, pregnant people and others were also encouraged to avoid strenuous outdoor activity.
The district, meanwhile, said face masks may provide some protection from smoke. Residents can also keep windows and doors closed if smoke thickens, it said.
According to the BC Wildfire Service, there are 59 active wildfires in the province, only one of which — the Donnie Creek wildfire near Prince George — is considered highly visible, posing possible risk to human health and safety.