Mon. June 12 - How Island families are facing wildfire future

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning !

Yesterday we asked if you’ve been affected by the road closures from the Cameron Bluffs wildfire, and about a third of those who responded said yes. About one in eight respondents reported being directly affected, while close to a quarter had friends or family affected.

Today’s stories look at the details of some of those effects, the current status of the fires and road closures, and at how a North Island family has handled recent years’ increase in fires.

NEWS

Your fire closure experiences: Missed medical care, supply shortages, days of delays, and dust

Capital Daily readers weighed in this weekend on the fire-driven closure of the only major highway to the main West Island communities. Some described the backroads detour making their travel two or three times as long (and infinitely more dusty). Others have been stuck for days on one side or the other of the closure without a vehicle that can manage the detour’s gravel backroads.

Supplies ran low on West Island
“One road in, one road out means in Tofino that the stores are bare,” a reader wrote, “the pumps are empty and the shops are closed. The detour is only for the experienced or the desperate.”

Commercial truck convoys began rolling on Sunday and continue this week, twice each way each day, getting supplies to the closed-off western communities but making that four-hour backroad trip even longer for non-commercial drivers

Closure has had serious medical ramifications
One reader’s medication deliveries were disrupted, while several people needed medical trips to Victoria or Port Alberni for tests and treatments such as radiation. They’ve had to cancel or take on the expense of flying or staying for multiple days.

Some people described cancelled vacation plans of their own or visitors from out of town (from as far as the UK), and others said they weren’t yet fully affected but have been in limbo waiting to see if upcoming plans will have to be cut.

“Parksville/Qualicum [is] the bottle neck right now,” one resident wrote, “with tourists waiting to see if Highway 4 will reopen.”

Fire updates: Size now 254ha; firefighter injured; Hwy 4 decision today

New and fuller measurements by crews show that the Cameron Bluffs fire has actually been 254 hectares rather than 208. It didn’t grow this weekend, thanks in part to the rain, but remains out of control. The BC Wildfire Service said that the 15mm of Friday rain helped dampen the fire to “a smoldering ground fire with some open flame” but did not change the underlying drought conditions. More rain is expected this week.

Crews work on the east flank near Cameron Lake communities and west flank near Cathedral Grove. The fire’s growth was upslope and south, away from Hwy 4.

One firefighter was injured Saturday, the BC Wildfire Service confirmed to CHEK, whose source said the person was taken to surgery at Victoria General.

An update is expected today on Hwy 4, but it will likely remain closed.

NEWS

“This is how we live now”: How an Island family deals with recent, current, and future summer fires

While the Cameron Bluffs fire has caused the most disruption recently, the Newcastle fire continues at about the same size. It’s considered under control, but nearby residents are still on edge; local Shannon Briggs says her family has gotten everything prepared for a speedy evacuation.

It’s just the latest fire adaptation made by Briggs, who in 2018 moved back home to a Sayward that is giving her kids much smokier childhood summers than hers were. She and her husband have no desire to move away from a farm they call their dream home, so they’ve been starting to meticulously fireproof it.

Here’s what they’re doing to try to keep their rural home safe from flames and their lungs safe from smoke.

Capital Bulletin

🌤️ Today’s weather: Mainly sunny. High 23C (19 near water) / low 14. Humidex 26. UV index 8 (very high).

🌦️ This week’s weather: Sun with some cloud the next few days, then the week remains warm but rain returns. [Forecast]

🫁 Air quality: Low risk (3/10), with South Island projected to be spared both the minor smoke from up-Island and the major smoke covering much of Canada.

⛽ Gas prices on brink of $2/litre: Numerous local stations are at 199.9 cents, per GasBuddy.

NEWS

Where to find late-night food in Victoria

With festivals around town, friends visiting, and warmth and light lasting well into the evening, a lot of us are staying out later and later these summer days.

Victoria has a fairly deserved reputation as early-to-bed, with plenty of storefronts dark before dinnertime for much of the year. Many restaurants close by 10pm, and the bars that stay open later tend to close their kitchens well before last call.

But there are still a few late-night options for those who are still up and out past midnight and don’t want to resort to the McDonald’s window. Tasting Victoria rounded up a few of the most delicious local options for hungry revellers, from butter chicken poutine to classy Italian pizza.

SPONSORED BY VICTORIA FOUNDATION

A gold medal episode of the Vital Victoria Podcast

The dream to play for her country started with watching TV, seeing teammates link arms and celebrating a gold medal in 2002. Years later, she became the first hockey player from Vancouver Island to play on the National Women’s Hockey Team.

Micah Zandee-Hart joins host Lucky Budd for episode 14 of the Vital Victoria Podcast. They talk about her journey from playing minor hockey on the Peninsula to the Olympics, how we can foster inclusive leadership and culture at all levels of hockey for youth, and more.

"If we're creating an environment where kids want to show up, just because it's fun, that's how it should be at a young age,” said Zandee-Hart.

Listen to the Vital Victoria Podcast today, wherever you find your podcasts.

Capital Picks

🏙️ Saanich OCP online workshops: Interactive discussions on the district’s new Official Community Plan draft and how the municipality should grow and change. Tues. and Thurs. [Pre-register]

🎶 Outdoor summer evening entertainment at The Butchart Gardens Wednesday–Saturday, June 30 to Sept. 3. Concerts included with the price of admission. Download the calendar!*

🧙‍♀️ Jinkx Monsoon at the Royal Theatre: The two-time winner of Drag Race, (whose current All-Stars season features Victoria’s Jimbo) brings music, comedy, camp, and witchcraft to Victoria with the Everything at Stake tour. 8pm tonight. [Tickets]

🏠 CKT is looking for host homes to host Japanese students from Aug. 2-14 (12 nights). If you're interested in hosting, contact Yuri at [email protected] by Jun. 20. Hosts will be compensated. Seniors, single families with/without kids are welcome.*

☂️ PEERS needs donations: The local Night Outreach program seeks underwear, makeup, hygiene products, and more—or money with which to buy those. [Details]

🤝 Now hiring: Account Coordinator at Capital Daily.

*Sponsored Listing

In Other News

☔ Victoria’s wettest day in four months
Friday was the wettest June 10 on record with 13.2mm—the most precipitation Victoria-Gonzales station has had since Feb. 7. That’s more rain in one day than fell at YYJ station in all of May; last month was only the 9th time on record that a local May has had below 12mm. [YYJ Weather Records]

👟 Operation Trackshoes ends after 50 years
Last week’s UVic event was the final edition of the volunteer-run track meet for hundreds of adults with developmental disabilities. It’s ending for several reasons, including lack of money and people to step into leadership roles. [Oak Bay News]

🏥 Health minister to tour struggling Island hospitals
To assess staffing shortages and other crises firsthand, Adrian Dix says he will visit BC hospitals this summer including the Island’s struggling ERs.

SPONSORED BY BELFRY THEATRE

Sandler’s Yaga opens the Belfry’s season

“...part thriller, part revenge play and with lots of comedy”, Kat Sandler’s devious new play opens the Belfry Theatre’s new season in September.

Learn more.

In Case You Missed It

 🥘 Esquimalt’s diverse food scene: The township’s restaurants range from Syrian to Italian and from authentic poutine to Mexican street food. [Tasting Victoria]

⚾ HarbourCats 1 AppleSox 3: Victoria (6-3) was swept this weekend in Wenatchee after opening the season with two sweeps of its own here at home.

🥑 This is the place: The Root Cellar at Oxford Corner in Cook Street Village—your innovative destination market for fresh locally grown produce and extraordinary food experiences. Learn more at TheRootCellar.ca.*

⛴️ Ferry cancellations rise: BC Ferries reported record-high vehicle traffic over the past year—but also rising expenses and cancellations. [Capital Daily]

🏠 Want to age in place? Next Day Access delivers and installs mobility and accessibility products right to your home. Schedule your free in-home assessment today!*

*Sponsored Listing