The Tugwell Creek #BCwildfire (approx 18 kms northwest of Sooke) is an estimated 25 hectares. While the fire is highly visible, no structures are currently threatened. Firefighters, heavy equipment, helicopters and air tankers are on site with additional firefighters on route. pic.twitter.com/PhkhGDCr8G — BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) July 4, 2018

The Coastal Fire Centre said more firefighters have been called out to Tugwell Creek after a wildfire in the area grew significantly Wednesday. Dorthe Jakobsen, Coastal Fire Centre spokeswoman, said earlier Wednesday that the winds overnight caused the wildfire, which is about 18 kilometres northwest of Sooke, to grow. By early Wednesday afternoon, it was at 25 hectares in size and by 5:15 p.m., it was reported to be 85 hectares. “Embers were carried by wind to other areas,” Jakobsen said. The Tugwell Creek fire has been burning since Monday and was originally reported to be four hectares.“Quite often when a fire initially happens, it’s difficult for us to get an exact size,” Jakobsen said. “As crews get on site and start fighting the fire, we get a better sense of the size.”The fire is still classified as out-of-control, Jakobsen said, and more resources are going to fight the blaze. Twenty provincial firefighters will be joining the 55 firefighters who are already in the area. Four helicopters and an air tanker group are also working on getting the fire under control. Two more helicopters are expected to arrive Wednesday and a management centre may be set up on site.Industry contractors are also helping to put out the fire, which is burning in slash (wood waste left behind in a cut block on a logging operation), juvenile trees, mature trees, and trees that have been cut down and are ready to be taken away to market. Jakobsen said the fire was about 10 per cent contained earlier in the day but is now back to zero. The cause of the blaze is under investigation. Two other wildfires are burning on Vancouver Island. One fire discovered on July 1 is near Rush Creek, west of Nanaimo Lakes, and is approximately 14.5 hectares in size. Jakobsen said it is 50 per cent contained and is being held. The other fire was discovered Wednesday east of Upper Quinsam Lake. According to the Coastal Fire Centre, the wildfire is estimated to be 0.01 hectares and is suspected to be human-caused.