Campers planning trips to the Port Alberni area this spring will face new fire safety rules at China Creek Campground and Marina. Following the significant Mount Underwood wildfire that occurred last summer, the facility has officially adopted a propane-only fire policy for the 2026 camping season.
The decision to restrict wood fires follows the experience of August 2025, when the Mount Underwood wildfire forced a full evacuation of the campground and its 250 sites. The blaze, which burned over 3,500 hectares of land southwest of Port Alberni, also resulted in a two-month closure of the Bamfield Main Road. The campground, which officially reopened for the season on April 1, 2026, cited high local fire risks and wind conditions as the primary reasons for the shift in safety protocols.
The move comes as the BC Wildfire Service prepares for what could be a demanding year ahead. Environment Canada has indicated that 2026 could be one of the hottest years on record, with concerns that low snowpack levels in parts of British Columbia may increase the risk of drought and wildfires throughout the coming spring and summer months.
In response to these conditions, the province is scaling up its wildfire management efforts, including a $14 million investment in new equipment and a record number of firefighter applications. While propane-only restrictions are now in place at China Creek, the campground notes that if no regional fire bans are active, wood fires remain permitted at the communal cookhouse area.
The Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, which coordinated the response during last year’s emergency, continues to monitor regional conditions as the area heads into the warmer months.
