Crews are trying to put out a forest Fire on Mt. Manuel Quimper in Sooke that erupted about 1:00 this afternoon. Sooke Fire and Rescue have been called to the scene in the Harbourview Park area about 30 minutes up the Manzanito Mountain Bike Trail. The blaze is reported about a half hectare in size, and the CRD says no structures are being threatened. Sooke Fire has a crew of 5 on the ground.
Marg Drysdale with the Coastal Fire Centre says the blaze is in the jurisdiction of Sooke Fire and Rescue, not Coastal Fire's jurisdiction. Nevertheless, Drysdale says they have sent support to help out, dispatching air support - 2 helicopters, as well as 6 firefighters.
According to the B.C. Wildfire Service, the fire danger rating for most of Vancouver Island is listed as "high".
Mt. Manuel Quimper is located in the Sooke Hills and is popular with the hiking community.