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Crews continue mop-up work at Port Mellon fire

The BC Wildfire Service says the fire that broke out near Port Mellon on June 19 is still being mopped up. Two hot spots were detected during scans Sunday and a crew was returning to the area on Monday.
Avalon fire
A tree falling on power lines sparked a wildfire near Port Mellon June 19

The BC Wildfire Service says the fire that broke out near Port Mellon on June 19 is still being mopped up.

Two hot spots were detected during scans Sunday and a crew was returning to the area on Monday.

The fire, which was spotted late Wednesday afternoon about three kilometres south of Port Mellon near the Avalon log sort, burned through about three hectares and at the height of the firefighting effort around two-dozen firefighters, helicopters and air tankers were assigned to the fire.

A section of the Port Mellon Highway was closed briefly June 19 to bring in heavy equipment, but the road was reopened the following morning.

Kathy Cloutier, director of corporate communications with Paper Excellence, said there had been no direct impact to Howe Sound Pulp and Paper.

The Coastal Fire Centre has confirmed that a tree falling across a power line sparked the blaze.