Coquihalla Highway remains closed by wildfire as Highway 20 east of Bella Coola reopens
Highway 20 in B.C.’s Chilcotin region has reopened to traffic after being closed overnight due to the Beef Trail Creek wildfire, but the Coquihalla Highway remains shut between Merritt and Hope as a wildfire there burns out of control.
According to DriveBC, Highway 20 west of Anahim Lake is now open to traffic, but there is a warning of “dynamic wildfire activity in the area” that could lead to further closures without notice. This road is a crucial link to Bella Coola and communities along the Central Coast.
The Beef Trail Creek fire, which is estimated to be 78 square kilometres in size as of Thursday morning, resulted in an evacuation order earlier this week for 150 parcels of land and several Ulkatcho First Nation reserves. Evacuation alerts are also in place for nearby areas around Bosk and Dusty lakes, southeast of the evacuation order area.
An evacuation alert indicates that residents should be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice, while an evacuation order means residents should evacuate immediately.
The B.C. Wildfire Service has stated that hot and dry conditions are contributing to large fire growth during the day, making firefighting efforts challenging. However, the fire has not crossed Highway 20 or the Beef Trail Forest Service Road.
On the other hand, the Coquihalla Highway (Highway 5) between Hope and Merritt, which connects the Lower Mainland with the Interior, remains closed due to the Mine Creek wildfire. This fire has grown to approximately 1,900 hectares since it was first discovered on Monday. DriveBC has advised that detours are available via Highway 1 or Highway 3.
The B.C. Wildfire Service reported that record heat and strong winds pushed the Mine Creek wildfire to Rank 5 behaviour on Wednesday, indicating an extremely vigorous surface fire. By Thursday morning, the fire was showing rank 2 and 3 fire behaviour, indicating a moderately vigorous surface fire.
Additionally, there are air quality warnings across B.C. due to wildfires burning in the region. The poor air quality is expected to persist for several days, with smoky conditions affecting transportation routes. Environment Canada has issued special air quality statements for 32 areas across B.C., including Metro Vancouver, warning of hazy skies and degraded conditions that may last into the weekend.
As of Thursday morning, there are 154 wildfires burning across B.C., including nine new starts in the past 24 hours. The province is bracing for an increase in wildfire activity due to lightning in the forecast and recent high temperatures.
Moreover, British Columbia experienced record-breaking temperatures, with Cache Creek setting a new Canadian record for the month of September at 40.8 C. This comes after Lytton matched the previous record of 40 C set in Manitoba. With heat warnings in place in various regions, including the Fraser Canyon and the Thompson, Boundary, and 100 Mile regions, residents are urged to take precautions and stay informed about wildfire updates.
