The Coquihalla Highway remains closed in both directions between Hope, B.C., and Merritt due to an out-of-control wildfire.
The BC Wildfire Service said the Mine Creek fire is threatening the highway and that the Ministry of Transportation had closed the route at its recommendation.
The fire, which is burning about 44 km northeast of Hope, was last measured at 1,900 hectares in size, and is classified as out of control.
On Thursday evening, the Fraser Valley Regional District issued evacuation orders for the Coquihalla Lakes Area, covering the Coquihalla Lake Lodge and the Coquihalla Summit Snowmobile Club and Tulameen Forest Service Road.
DriveBC’s next update on the highway, meanwhile, was expected at 10 a.m. PT on Friday.
Drivers are urged to use Highway 1 or Highway 3 as an alternate route. However, Highway 1 is closed on Friday morning due to a vehicle incident south of Yale. There is no word yet when Highway 1 will reopen.
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The Mine Creek fire was first spotted on Monday, and officials believe it was sparked by lightning.
On Thursday afternoon, wildfire officials said the blaze was exhibiting Rank 2 and 3 fire behaviour, meaning a moderately vigorous surface fire.
Andrea Chambers was driving home along the Coquihalla Highway before it was shut down.
“Originally, when I saw the fire, it was up to the left,” she told Global News. “So I thought it was just up on the mountain, like on the hillside to the left, but then as the, as I went further on the road, it ended up where it was actually right in front of me.”
Chambers said it was surreal.
“Just as I got closer, seeing how dark it got, like it was just this blanket that went overhead and the smoke plumes were just rolling in on themselves,” she added. It looked like they were alive
The wildfire service has deployed structure protection units to protect critical infrastructure in the area, and is attacking the fire with bombers and helicopters.
As of Wednesday evening, several evacuation alerts had been issued by multiple regional districts due to the fire.
The Thompson-Nicola Regional District has put 84 properties in the Brookmere area on evacuation alert, along with one property on evacuation order.
The Fraser Valley Regional District has also issued an evacuation alert in the Coquihalla Lakes area, covering part of the Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area and land to both sides of Highway 5 east of the Great Bear Snow Shed.
It comes as B.C. sees a surge in new wildfire activity amid record-breaking late season temperatures and numerous lightning strikes.
Earlier Wednesday, B.C. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar warned the public that the province wasn’t out of the woods as far as the fire risk is concerned.
“Let me be clear: the risk of new wildfire starts and week-over-week growth remains a serious issue for much of the province, and the immediate weather forecast will continue to create challenging wildfire conditions,” Parmar said.
“Although it may feel like summer is winding down, we are still in an active wildfire season. Everybody must do what they can to help prevent new wildfire starts and (it) is more important than ever to take the necessary steps to remain prepared.”
There is no estimated time for the route to reopen.
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