BC Wildfire Service has two separate fires along the Cowichan River west of Duncan listed on their files but North Cowichan fire chief Ron French said they are related.
The first fire (incident number V60929) was discovered near Carmel Creek on July 13, early in the afternoon. The site is north of Indian Road and south of Gibbins Road.
At its maximum, the fire was roughly .76 hectares in size and, as of the morning of July 14 is being held.
According to BC Wildfire Service, that means "the wildfire is projected, based on fuel and weather conditions and resource availability, to remain within the current perimeter, control line or boundary. At this point, crews may finish establishing control lines, conduct fuel management activities and mop-up (extinguishing a fire after it has been brought under control)."
Coastal Fire Centre spokesperson Olivia Fenton said that crews from North Cowichan Fire Department's South End hall were first to arrive and were supported by two BC Wildfire Service initial attack crews and two officers, as well as two helicopters.
"The local fire department felt comfortable handling it so they are the lead agency," Fenton noted.
French confirmed, "BC Wildfire crews spent the day with us yesterday and then they got re-deployed to another fire on the coast."
That fire has been determined to be human caused.
French said that while the second fire was reported separately, "it was a very small fire right in the same area, so really it was one fire with a little spot-fire off of that one."
BC Wildfire Service fire V60938 was about 0.009 hectares in size.
As of July 14, both fires have been contained, French said, and work is underway to make sure they remain extinguished.
"We were there quite late last night putting it out and then putting out a wet line sprinkler system out to pump water on it just to make sure it stayed out overnight. We were back there at 7:30 this morning doing hot-spots and mop-up."
He said at its peak, roughly 30 members of the North Cowichan Fire Department worked on the fire.
