The Old Sechelt Mine fire is contained but still smouldering in spots and the BC Wildfire Service is cautioning the public to stay out of the area this week.
Although the logging road near the site has been reopened, it should only be used by local traffic, Marg Drysdale, information officer with BC Wildfire Service, said.
“There are warning signs that we have posted there and we’re asking anybody who doesn’t have to travel in that area to stay out of the area,” Drysdale said.
She explained that while the 423-hectare fire scene has been contained on all sides since the end of July, fire crews have allowed the fire to continue smouldering in an effort to clean the forest floor of debris.
“You want to get rid of that debris that’s on the ground because you don’t want another fire there,” Drysdale said.
When the wind picks up, so does smoke and flame in the area, but Drysdale said it’s nothing to be alarmed about as long as fires stay within the contained area, which is being patrolled by wildfire crews.
In addition to the hot spots is the threat of falling trees due to instability in the area.
“With any wind event more of those trees could potentially come down,” Drysdale said. “We really want people to stay out of the area – that’s why the warning signs are there.”
The fire started on July 2, about two kilometres northwest of Sechelt.
While the source of the fire is still under investigation, it has been deemed a human-caused event.
