Crews are battling a forest fire in Sayward that has been burning since Friday.
The Sayward Fire Department and the B.C. Wildfire Service were notified Friday of the fire, which cover between five and seven hectares, said Coastal Fire Centre information officer Dorthe Jakobsen.
The fire, which was 30 per cent contained, is burning in slash next to Frenchman Road in Sayward.
About 30 firefighters are battling the blaze, using five helicopters and heavy machinery, Jakobsen said.
They hope the fire will be fully contained by today, she said.
One home was evacuated as a precaution but the fire is not threatening any structures. The fire is believed to be human caused but that remains under investigation, Jakobsen said.
Firefighters have warned of greater wildfire risk due to the record-breaking heat this month.
Since the start of B.C.’s wildfire season on April 1, there have been 21 fires in the coastal fire region, including 12 on Vancouver Island, Jakobsen said. The seasonal average in the region, which includes Haida Gwaii and B.C.’s south coast, is 10.
The increase is likely due to lower-than-normal precipitation levels in the winter into spring, she said.
“We haven’t had the snow, we haven’t had the rain we normally see. Things are dry and the warm temperatures absolutely contribute to the danger.”
