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Grass fire lights up Blanshard meridian near Uptown

As crews of the Saanich Fire Department continue to mop up the aftermath of a grassfire near one of the busiest intersections in the region, traffic has partially reopened along parts of Blanshard Street.

As crews of the Saanich Fire Department continue to mop up the aftermath of a grassfire near one of the busiest intersections in the region, traffic has partially reopened along parts of Blanshard Street.

The grass fire had fully closed down traffic along Blanshard Street south of Saanich Road and north of Cloverdale Avenue for some 45 minutes or so. Just before 2 p.m., police re-opened north bound traffic on Blanshard Street.

The site of the fire us in Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure land, bound by Saanich Road to the north and Cloverdale Avenue to the south, with Blanshard Street running on either side.

While it is not clear what caused the fire, Saanich Police were seen interviewing individuals said to be sheltering in the area. Tents are a frequent site in the area. In 2016, a MOTI contracted crew cleared out all the shrubs and branches up to six feet, ending at least one long term camp.

The fire had large plumes of smoke into the afternoon sky, shroudding offices and residences up and down Blanshard Avenue in thick smoke.

No reports of injuries or damage are currently available.

The intersection ranks among the busiest in the Greater Victoria area, home to several large residential and commercial complexes.

Updates to follow.

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This was the scene early Tuesday afternoon from the balcony of the Saanich News. Wolf Depner/News Staff
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Wolf Depner

About the Author: Wolf Depner

I joined the national team with Black Press Media in 2023 from the Peninsula News Review, where I had reported on Vancouver Island's Saanich Peninsula since 2019.
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