A wildfire north of Bamberton near the Malahat snarled up traffic today (Thurs) and had firefighters from 4 crews and the BC Wildfire Service on the scene.
It started around one o’clock in the afternoon on one side of the highway and quickly grew from point 7 of a hectare to double that side by mid afternoon.
Blowing embers spread it to the other side of the highway as well.
The Malahat had to be closed northbound for much of the afternoon and into the evening with traffic being re-routed on Shawnigan Lake road.
It was closed southbound for a while as well.
By around 9 o’clock the fire was contained on one side of the highway and crews were watching for spot fires on the other side but traffic was moving again through the area.
There are no reports of any structures being lost.
