Mount Jack Wildfire North of Sooke Grows Beyond 200 Hectares, Remains Out of Control

Liam O'Connell

9/24/20262 min read

A wildfire burning north of Sooke on southern Vancouver Island has grown to more than 200 hectares and remains out of control, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service.

The Mount Jack wildfire was discovered on Sept. 20 and had reached at least 210 hectares by Wednesday.

Fire information officer Erika Berg said the blaze has continued to expand over the past several days, driven by difficult terrain and dry conditions.

“The Mount Jack Wildfire has seen some steady growth over the past three days. That's been mainly driven by the steep terrain, the dry fuels and a lack of rain,” Berg said.

Cooler Weather and Rain Expected

Crews are expecting conditions to improve over the coming days as temperatures drop and precipitation moves into the region.

Berg said the change in weather should reduce fire activity and make it easier for firefighters to work closer to the perimeter.

“That will help moderate fire behaviour and support our ongoing suppression efforts. It's not going to put this fire out per se, but it will allow us to get closer to the fire's edge and work towards containment,” she said.

The wildfire remains classified as out of control, meaning it is continuing to spread and has not yet been fully contained.

Watershed Threat Has Eased

Earlier in the week, part of the fire had moved into an area near a local watershed, raising concerns about possible impacts.

Berg said that risk has since diminished as the fire shifted farther northeast.

“It's more-so now moved a bit more northeast. So, it's bypassing where you start to enter the watershed,” she said.

She added that there are currently no threats to structures or public safety.

Fire Believed to Be Human-Caused

The cause of the wildfire remains under investigation.

However, the B.C. Wildfire Service has classified it as human-caused, meaning investigators do not believe lightning sparked the blaze.

Most of southern Vancouver Island continues to be under a high fire danger rating.

Galloping Goose Trail Closed

The Capital Regional District has closed part of the Galloping Goose Regional Trail as a precaution following a recommendation from the B.C. Wildfire Service.

The closure includes the trail beginning around kilometre 52 near Salmon Place Campground, as well as access to Kapoor Regional Park.

“Visitors are asked to keep out of the closure area and avoid accessing the area through other parks and trail networks,” the district said.

Officials said closure information will be updated as conditions change.

Fire crews remain on scene working toward containment while monitoring weather, terrain and any potential risks to nearby areas.

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