Mine Creek Wildfire Forces Major Closure of Coquihalla Highway as Flames Cross Critical BC Route

Critical Highway Closure Impacts BC Transportation

A significant wildfire has forced the closure of British Columbia’s crucial Coquihalla Highway (Highway 5) between Hope and Merritt on Wednesday afternoon, disrupting a major transportation route connecting the Lower Mainland with the Interior.

Fire Growth and Current Status

The Mine Creek fire continues to burn out of control, having expanded dramatically from just over 100 hectares when first discovered Monday to its current size of 483 hectares. The blaze was initially suspected to have been sparked by lightning.

BC Wildfire Service reports that the fire has jumped the highway and is burning aggressively. The fire is displaying high-intensity behavior, reaching the tops of trees and burning extremely vigorously, with embers creating smaller spot fires ahead of the main blaze.

Response and Challenges

Firefighting efforts are complicated by the lack of road access to the incident, with steep slopes and rocky terrain posing significant challenges for access. The situation is being monitored through multiple daily helicopter flights, including night vision operations to track its growth.

Travel Impact and Detours

DriveBC has not provided an estimated time for reopening the highway. Travelers are experiencing delays while detouring around the fire using alternative routes. Officials are advising drivers to expect delays and use Highway 1 or Highway 3 as alternate routes.

Officials note that September’s shorter days and cooler overnight temperatures may help combat the fire: “The good news is that as we head into September, our days are shorter and we are seeing OK recoveries overnight. With the cooler temperatures and little bit of humidity that we get overnight, we do see a decrease in fire behaviour”.