Image: Majoh Morales, used with permission / Multiple fire agencies have been dispatched to a fire near Herrling Island, northeast of Chilliwack, Monday morning. The fire started at approximately 6:35 a.m. Monday morning and grew to a hectare in size within an hour and a half approximaately.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Wildfire

Update: BC Wildfire Service says fire near Herrling Island under control

Jul 15, 2024 | 7:26 AM

**Update at 1 p.m. Monday afternoon: BC Wildfire Service now says the 1-hectare fire near Herrling Island is being held. “We are assisting with two initial attack crews and helicopter support,” B.C. Wildfire Service wrote in a statement on Facebook at 1:05 p.m. “The fire is one hectare in size, is exhibiting Rank 1 & 2 behaviour (a smouldering ground/ low vigour surface fire) and currently is classified as being held. This fire is visible from the highway and may be impacting traffic.”**

**Update at 11 a.m. Monday morning: BC Wildfire Service’s website shows the fire is still 1 hectare, and its website was last updated at 10:45 a.m. It believes the fire is human-caused.**

**Update at 8:56 a.m.: A helicopter is now at the scene of this fast-growing fire between Herrling Island and Peters Road, east of Chilliwack. The fire has grown to one hectare in size as of 8:56 a.m. The fire is believed to have originated near, or around, BC Hydro power lines.**

Original story below:

HERRLING ISLAND — Popkum Fire and Agassiz Fire have been dispatched Monday morning (July 15) for a fast-growing fire between Herrling Island and Peters Road, northwest of Jones (Wahleach) Lake.

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According to scanner traffic and social media posts, the call initially came in at approximately 6:35 a.m. Monday for a fire. Not long after the initial dispatch, fire crews told dispatch the fire was initially 30 feet by 30 feet in size.

That estimate has now grown to 300 feet by 500 feet in size as the fire spreads into the forest. Wires are reportedly down.

In subsequent updates, BC Hydro has been asked to respond to the scene.

BC Wildfire Service’s website shows the fire on its dashboard, and only reports that it was discovered July 15. The suspected cause is under investigation.

Eastbound Highway 1 is significantly impacted by the nearby fire, according to Google Maps, which shows dark red in the area of exit 148 (Herrling Island).

Drive BC wrote this morning that motorists driving eastbound on Hwy. 1 should expect delays as the right lane is closed.

Image: Google Maps / Hwy. 1 traffic impacted by fire.

More updates to come.