A brush fire on Mount Blinkhorn proved bigger than first expected.

Volunteers with the Metchosin fire department began tackling the blaze just after noon on Friday and were quickly faced with a challenging situation.

B次元官网网址淲e saw the smoke from the fire hall before we were even paged for it,B次元官网网址� said Fire Chief Stephanie Dunlop. B次元官网网址淲e knew based on the smoke it wasnB次元官网网址檛 just a small campfire.B次元官网网址�

The department immediately paged for help from neighbouring fire halls and from the B.C. Forestry Service.

The fire was initially estimated at about three hectares, but further investigation revealed its size to be closer to 6.5 hectares, said Dunlop, and on very difficult terrain.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a long, narrow driveway to get up to the top. We ran out of water, and finally it was such a big fire we werenB次元官网网址檛 able to get enough water on it. The B.C. forestry crews were a huge benefit to us,B次元官网网址� she adds. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e the experts on this.B次元官网网址�

An evacuation alert for several residential areas was issued, and crews stayed overnight, spot checking the perimeter and hot spots every hour.

Gathering winds saw a brief flare-up in some hot spots the next morning, said Dunlop, but the blaze was officially completely contained by 5 p.m. on Saturday.

B次元官网网址淲e were very, very fortunate that it was contained to the top of the hill,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淣obody was formally evacuated, no lives were lost, no structures were lost, no injuries were reported.B次元官网网址�

The Metchosin fire department will continue to monitor the hot spots for roughly a week, depending on weather.

As of Monday, Ministry of Forests firefighters, as well as some Metchosin members remained on site. As well, the path around Mount Blinkhorn was still closed.

Dunlop said the cause of the fire was very likely human. B次元官网网址淎 cigarette or campfire. But itB次元官网网址檚 so burnt up there itB次元官网网址檚 hard to tell.B次元官网网址�

The fire rating is back up to extreme, and Dunlop urges anyone who does have a fire to ensure that itB次元官网网址檚 completely extinguished.

The chief also expressed B次元官网网址渕any, many thanks to all the volunteers that helped out.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲e had crews out from all over. Everybody came out, all volunteers B次元官网网址� there was probably close to 2,000 hours of volunteer time over four days.B次元官网网址�

acowan@goldstreamgazette.com