©BCWildfireService

Vancouver Island, BC — While it wasn’t the worst fire season in B.C. history, the 2025 wildfires of central Vancouver Island impacted the lives of far more residents than in previous years. The two wildfires near Port Alberni proved that west coast communities are vulnerable when it comes to road access. While one fire burned at Cameron Lake another fire broke out on Franklin River Road, cutting Port Alberni off from the provincially-established emergency detour route. In the end, Highway 4 remained open, allowing travellers to use the main route throughout the summer. …Even before wildfires and road closures, Port Alberni residents and First Nations leadership have been calling for a secondary access route to the city for decades. Both Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council President Judith Sayers and Ditidaht First Nation leaders have called on government to make improvements to the Youbou detour route to make it safer.