An abandoned neighbourhood in Sechelt is on fire, and firefighters say they are unable to safely extinguish the blaze due to hazardous ground conditions.

The fire is burning in the Seawatch neighbourhood, which was evacuated in 2019 after a series of sinkholes and ongoing geotechnical instability made the area unsafe. The neighbourhood contains 14 homes, and residents who were forced to leave have never been permitted to return.

Emergency crews cannot safely access the property to fight the fire directly because of the unstable terrain, Sechelt Fire Department said.

On Sunday morning, the Sechelt Fire Department warned the public to stay away from the area, noting that the burning structures are expected to continue producing smoke and off-gassing for several days.

“It’s not safe to be around off-gassing structure fires without appropriate Personal Protective Equipment. The pictures aren’t worth the risk. If you live nearby, keep windows closed if you smell smoke,” the department said in a social media post.

The fire is being monitored by the Sechelt Fire Department, RCMP, the District of Sechelt and the BC Wildfire Service.

Officials are asking anyone who notices an increase in fire activity to contact the Sechelt Fire Department at 604-740-2595.