The province paid more than $800,000 to fight last summer’s Copper Canyon wildfire on Mosaic private forestlands, a freedom-of-information request by sixmountains.ca reveals.

The 32-hectare wildfire is thought to be human caused, but the province is not releasing further details, saying its investigation into the case is “currently active.”

The province says the wildfire was first reported on Aug. 5, 2021, and declared out on Oct. 19, 2021. The location is officially described as “outside North Cowichan near Chemainus River Provincial Park, 13 kms NW of Duncan.”

The province adds: “The overall cost is $819,665.12. This is the monies paid out to date but may not be a final number as some costs may yet be outstanding.”

Mosaic says it "spent money in that same order of magnitude through our own staff, contractors, equipment and supplies under the command of the province."

The wildfire caused concern for North Cowichan residents given the potential for the flames to spread into the 5,000-hectare Municipal Forest Reserve.

Illegal campfires, some large and involving parts of motor vehicles, are not uncommon on Mount Prevost and Mount Sicker.