The Holyoak Creek fire in the Cowichan Valley has grown to 32 hectares.
More equipment and firefighters were assigned Friday to fight the blaze through the night.
The fire, fuelled by a dry forest and whipped up by winds, grew from eight hectares earlier in the day.
“The fire grew all day Friday. Crews were able to only determine the size of the fire between 4 and 5 p.m. when the smoke cleared,” said Dorthe Jakobson, fire information officer with the B.C. Wildlife Service.
The blaze, approximately 13 kilometres north of Duncan, is the largest wildfire on Vancouver Island this season.
Additional firefighters are being brought in, along with more firefighting equipment.
Fightfighters hope to build a fire guard to contain the blaze, which is listed as out of control.
The Cowichan Valley Regional District’s emergency operations centre issued an evacuation alert for a property at 7990 Mount Prevost Rd., citing “potential danger to life and health.”
The notice said the alert is to prepare occupants to evacuate “should it be found necessary.”
Cause of the fire has not been determined. Fire risk remains high due to drought conditions on the South Island, the B.C. Wildfire Service said.
The service has two helicopters and at least 21 firefighters battling the blaze. It has asked for an air tanker.
The fire was first reported on Thursday night.
Another fire about a hectare in size near the Chemainus River is now listed as under control.
