UPDATE: Okanagan Connector fully reopened overnight

(UPDATE: Nov. 18 @ 7:00 am) - The Okanagan Connector (Hwy 97C) fully reopened around 4 am this morning.

Crews worked through the night cleaning the site of a commercial vehicle fire that started Friday morning east of Brenda Mines.

The Penske rental truck that caught on fire was carrying chemicals and “making the firefight challenging” according to an earlier RCMP release.

✅#BCHwy97C - OPEN in both directions following an earlier vehicle fire. #OkanaganConnector #MerrittBC #Kelowna #WestKelowna #Westbank #Peachland https://t.co/80lhIgUWyu

— DriveBC (@DriveBC) November 18, 2023

(UPDATE: Nov. 17 @ 3:15 pm) - Despite earlier reports from the RCMP that claimed westbound lanes were open on the Okanagan Connector (Hwy 97C), DriveBC has confirmed the route is shut down in both directions.

It closed around 10:30 am after a Penske rental truck caught fire just east of Brenda Mines, around 20 kilometres outside West Kelowna and Peachland.

Police had previously said the fire fight was challenging due to the presence of chemicals inside the truck.

There has been no estimate provided on when the highway might reopen to traffic.

Motorists should check DriveBC the latest updates before heading out.

(UPDATE: Nov. 17 @ 12:20 pm) - Police say the contents of a truck that caught fire on the Okanagan Connector (Hwy 97C) are making the situation more difficult.

According to the West Kelowna RCMP, the Penske rental truck was carrying chemicals that ignited and that is "making the fire fight challenging."

Along with the RCMP and BC Highway Patrol, West Kelowna Fire Rescue is on scene battling the scene and police say they're "making progress."

"Once the fire is extinguished an investigation will begin into the cause of the blaze," said an RCMP release.

The incident around 20 kilometres outside of West Kelowna and Peachland fully shut down the highway in both directions initially.

However, police have since reported the westbound lanes are open, while the eastbound lanes, in which the incident occurred, are closed.

(Original story: Nov. 17 @ 11:40 am) - The Okanagan Connector (Hwy 97C) has been shut down in both directions.

DriveBC says the vehicle fire responsible for the closure is just east of Brenda Mines and around 20 kilometres west of West Kelowna and Peachland.

Photos shared to the Coquihalla Road Reports Facebook group show its a Penske rental truck that went up in flames.

The fire appeared to be spreading across the highway’s eastbound lanes when the photos were taken.

While the truck will certainly be a total loss, the motorist that posted the photos said that the driver is “safe and okay.”

DriveBC says an assessment is in progress and there’s currently no estimate as to when the highway will reopen.

NowMedia will update this story as information is made available.