SITUATION:
An active wildfire on the north shore of Cameron Lake now covers an area of 571 hectares, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS).
Island Health and HEMBC are communicating with leaders on a regular basis and coordinating with provinicial and local agencies as needed. To stay up to date on the state of the fire, please visit the BC Wildfire Service Map.
HEALTH ALERTS:
August 7:
An Air Quality warning has been issued for August 6, 2025. Regions included under this Air Quality Warning include:
- East Vancouver Island (central): includes Nanoose Bay, Parksville, Coombs, Qualicum Beach, Fanny Bay,
- Denman Island, Hornby Island, and Lasqueti Island.
- Inland Vancouver Island: includes Lake Cowichan, Nahmint, Port Alberni, central portions of Strathcona Park and Schoen Lake Provincial Park.
- Stuart - Nechako: includes Fraser Lake, Fort Fraser, Vanderhoof, Fort St James, and Tachie.
- Check the Air Quality Health Index for your region and visit our Wildfires page to learn how to reduce exposure to wildfire smoke.
- Find support for patients with wildfire smoke inhalation
- Please note and share: patients can visit a pharmacy, rather than urgent care, to refill respiratory medication.
TRANSPORTATION & ROAD CONDITIONS:
August 7: Highway 4 remains open to all vehicles. Drivers should exercise caution as smoke reduces visibility. Please notify your supervisor if you experience any highway related changes or access issues. Add extra time to your travel time in the area along Highway 4. While driving in smoky conditions, keep your headlights and taillights on, close your windows, and use the recirculation setting on the air conditioning. Watch for flaggers in the Port Alberni Summit area.
- Continue to monitor DriveBC
- Current Road Advisories (TranBC)
EVACUATIONS:
Please refer to the Regional District of Nanaimo for current evacuation orders and alerts.
Visit Island Health's Wildfires page for information for people returning home after being evacuated.
BUILD A GRAB-AND-GO BAG:
Build an emergency kit and grab-and-go bag (Province of BC)
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Monitor weather warnings for your area on: http://www.weather.gc.ca/.
For facilities equipped with HVAC, keep doors and windows closed in order to support optimal air quality indoors.
Community-based programs should remind clients to keep doors and windows closed if indoor temperatures are comfortable.
If HVAC cannot maintain acceptable air quality, consider using portable air cleaners equipped with a HEPA filter, while observing IPAC precautions on their use.
Check on people in your care and those around you who may be more susceptible to smoke.
Consider building an emergency kit and grab-and-go bag: Build an emergency kit and grab-and-go bag - Province of British Columbia
For emergency operational concerns, please follow your established contingency plans as well as contacting HEMBC On-Call for assistance on 1.250.370.8575.