Wildfire north of Sooke, B.C., burning out of control

The Mount Jack Wildfire on southern Vancouver Island is still burning out of control, the B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) said Wednesday.

The fire, discovered north of Sooke, B.C., on Sept. 20, has grown to at least 210 hectares in size.

"The Mount Jack Wildfire has seen some steady growth over the past three days. That's been mainly driven by the steep terrain, the dry fuels and a lack of rain," said fire information officer Erika Berg.

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Berg said crews are expecting colder weather and precipitation over the next few days.

The Mount Jack Wildfire was discovered on Sept. 20 2026 and is currently classified as out of control by BC Wildfire Services. This photo was taken on Sept 23 2026. (B.C. Wildfire Service)

"That will help moderate fire behaviour and support our ongoing suppression efforts. It's not going to put this fire out per se, but it will allow us to get closer to the fire's edge and work towards containment," she said.

Earlier in the week, Berg said part of the fire area had entered a nearby watershed, however that threat has now passed.

"It's more-so now moved a bit more northeast. So, it's bypassing where you start to enter the watershed. So no further risks at this time, and in terms of impact to structure or public safety, no threats there either."

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Berg said although crews are still investigating, the fire is deemed to be human-caused, which means it was not sparked by lightning. Most of southern Vancouver Island is still deemed as a High Fire Danger rating.

Kilometre 52 at the Salmon Place Campground, and access to Kapoor Regional Park are closed as a precaution due to the Mount Jack Wildfire on Vancouver Island. (Capital Regional District)

The Galloping Goose Regional Trail, a popular bike and walking trail in the region, has been closed by the Capital Regional District as a precaution recommended by the BCWS.

Areas of closure include kilometre 52 at the Salmon Place Campground, and access to Kapoor Regional park.

"Visitors are asked to keep out of the closure area and avoid accessing the area through other parks and trail networks," the district said in a release, adding alerts will be updated as more information is available.

This article, written by Isabella Calissi, was originally published for CBC News on Sept. 23, 2026.