Alaska Highway closed again by wildfire in B.C.'s far north
A raging wildfire in B.C.'s far north has, once again, prompted the closure of the Alaska Highway (Highway 97) in both directions west of Fort Nelson.
The Summit Lake wildfire, which grew overnight and now covers 26.3 square kilometres, was first discovered on May 28, but grew aggressively between Sunday and Monday, prompting a highway closure for much of Monday.
While the Alaska Highway partially reopened to allow single-lane alternating traffic around 9:30 p.m. PT on Monday, it was closed again around 12 p.m. PT on Tuesday due to the blaze. Commuters have been asked to check DriveBC for the latest on the stretch, with no detour available.
An evacuation alert remains in place for a stretch of the highway in the Tetsa Lake area, with the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality warning people there to be ready to leave at a moment's notice.
The B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) said in an online update that, while maintaining access to the critical Highway 97 stretch was a priority, the safety of crews and the public was its primary objective.
"This wildfire experienced growth overnight; none of the growth was in the direction of Highway 97 or toward identified assets," the Tuesday update reads. "Weather will continue to have impacts on fire behaviour and highway access."
The BCWS said in its update that it conducted a planned ignition on Monday to limit the wildfire's impact on the highway, and larger planned ignitions would be conducted on Tuesday.
"Much of this fire is in incredibly difficult and inaccessible terrain," the update reads.
"Ground crews are prioritizing work in accessible areas, and helicopters are providing overhead support."
Wildfires concentrated in north
Sarah Budd, a BCWS fire information officer, said that the bulk of wildfire activity was occurring in the northern half of the province, particularly the northeast corner. As of Tuesday afternoon, there were just under 70 fires burning in B.C.
"In the northeast, where we have the bulk of our current fire activity, we are expecting slightly higher winds today and tomorrow," she told CBC News on Tuesday.
"And with significantly higher winds on Thursday and Friday into the weekend, while we don't anticipate lightning or precipitation today or tomorrow, what we do think we're going to see is an extension of ... hot, dry, windy conditions."
Both of B.C.'s "wildfires of note" — those that are particularly visible or pose a threat to public safety — are in northern B.C., the Summit Lake wildfire being one of them.
The Kiskatinaw River wildfire near the B.C.-Alberta border in northeastern B.C. has led to 55 addresses being put on evacuation order, and officials say strong winds increased fire activity on that blaze.
As of Tuesday afternoon, it covers an area of just under 40 square kilometres.
Highway 52 East remains closed in the area due to the blaze, which is burning close to the Pembina Steeprock gas processing facility.
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