Tofino mayor says businesses seeing layoffs, tourist cancellations due to wildfire

Major disruptions continue on Vancouver Island due to an out-of-control wildfire that has largely cut off Port Alberni, Tofino, and Ucluelet.

Given the ongoing uncertainty about when that fire will be contained, there’s no clear timeline for when Highway 4 will be re-opened.

Read more: No ETA for reopening of Vancouver Island highway amid wildfire threat

Debris still litters the roadway and crews continue to have challenges with the large fire given the steep terrain.

While Tofino Mayor Dan Law is grateful essential goods are getting through on the detour, he says some businesses are starting to lay off workers given many tourists have cancelled trips.

“We’ve got restaurants that are essentially empty,” Law said. “So, you can’t keep staffing people with no business. And that’s moving on, as far as I understand, to people working on the water, whether it’s whale watching or fishing charters, et cetera.”

Another growing concern — Law says some in the tourism sector are reporting that people are starting to cancel trips scheduled for later this summer — even though this fire situation will presumably be resolved by then.

“I think one of the biggest things we’re seeing now that’s worrying, is people starting to cancel reservations a long way out, thinking that that’s it, that Tofino’s cut off and there’s no hope for summer,” Law said. “Which is simply not true. That’s why we’re hoping for a really good message from the Ministry of Transportation [on Tuesday]. We’re hoping for some light at the end of the tunnel, and at least some timeframes so our businesses can prepare, and also maybe people that are planning to come to Tofino and reservations, they’ll be able to plan ahead.”

The Ministry of Transportation is set to provide an update on the status of Highway 4 Tuesday afternoon.