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Campfire at Thetis lake park sparks brushfire

An illegal campfire on the Sunnyside cliffs at Thetis Lake park smoldered over night and ignited a small brush fire on Wednesday morning.

An illegal campfire on the Sunnyside cliffs at Thetis Lake park smoldered over night and ignited a small brush fire on Wednesday morning.

“All that was left were remnants of paper,” said View Royal Fire Rescue Lieut. Rob Marshall. “It got under the rocks (on the cliff). The rocks were quite hot.”

While the fire was extinguished quickly, Marshall said the situation could have been a lot worse.

“We are lucky that it rained last night,” Marshall said. “Otherwise it would have raced up the cliff into the forest.”

Fires are banned in all Capital Regional District parks, including Thetis Lake. View Royal also has a year-round burning ban.

When putting a fire out, Marshall suggests making “mud soup.”

“You should pour a ton of water on the fire and stir it up,” he said. “You should be able to put your hand in it.”