A forest fire that started over the weekend on the Malahat and was threatening nearby homes “was touch and go for awhile,” said Malahat Volunteer Fire Chief Rob Patterson.
“We ended up not evacuating people,” Patterson said Sunday.
The wind shifted and crews were able to get a handle on the blaze.
The fire was at its worst at dinnertime on Saturday, when it was a few hundred metres from the Malahat fire hall and residences.
The fire covered 1.5 hectares, he said.
“I would suspect it would be human caused,” said Patterson.
The B.C. Forest Service responded with firefighters on the ground and aircraft dropping retardant.
More than a dozen firefighters stayed at the scene overnight watching for hot spots.
