Fire broke out on the third consecutive day of record-breaking high temperatures in the Malahat area of the south Island.
Malahat broke its Aug. 15 record of 31.9 C set in 2003, hitting 32.7 C on Tuesday, according to Environment Canada. It was among 19 B.C. communities that broke records; the only one on the Island.
READ ALSO: Malahat reopens after crews battle four roadside wildfires
While the area remains under a days-long heat warning, fire broke out Tuesday near the split rock pullout on the Trans-Canada Highway.
Malahat Fire Rescue was called out shortly before 7 p.m. for reports of multiple fires – later noted as four separate blazes – in the roadside brush. Mill Bay and BC Wildfire Service crews also responded.
The highway was closed for about 90 minutes and fully reopened by 9:30 p.m.
As of Wednesday morning, the BC Wildfire Service listed it as a .2-hectare fire under control.
While tinder-dry conditions will continue, the heat wave is expected to wane to more seasonal norms. The Malahat is forecast to hit 29 C Wednesday with lows of 15 overnight and a high of 26 expected Thursday.
READ ALSO: Summer scorcher downs 2 Malahat daily records in 2 days