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Fire jumped highway

UPDATE: Friday 6 a.m.

A wildfire at Mill Bay, north of Victoria, jumped the Malahat Highway Thursday evening, shutting down traffic on Vancouver Island's main transportation artery.

CTV Vancouver Island reported late Thursday night the fire was 100 per cent contained on one side of the highway and 95 per cent on the other.

Fire crews were expected to be in mop-up mode this morning.

The was first noticed about 1 p.m. and grew to about 1.5 hectares.

It broke out near near Bamberton Provincial park.

About 40 firefighters from area departments and the BC Wildfire Service were manning the blaze.

It's the second time a fire has broken out in that area.

– with files from CTV Vancouver Island


ORIGINAL: Thursday 3:45 p.m.

A wildfire north of Victoria has shut down traffic on a Vancouver Island highway.

The fire broke out Thursday afternoon in Mill Bay, near Bamberton Provincial Park.

Firefighters from Mill Bay, Malahat, Cowichan Bay and Shawnigan Lake are fighting the fire, estimated to be about 0.7 hectares in size.

Provincial wildfire crews and two helicopters are also fighting the blaze.

CTV is reporting there is concern it could jump the Malahat Highway.

Northbound traffic has been closed due to the firefighting effort.

– with files from CTV Vancouver



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