(UPDATE: June 3 at 1:02 pm): British Columbia's driving information service says a stretch of the Alaska Highway near Fort Nelson, B.C., that reopened last night has again closed due to a nearby out-of-control wildfire.
DriveBC says in a posting around noon Tuesday that the wildfire between Grouse Trail and Toad Mountain Road had forced the nearly 162-kilometre closure of the highway, also known as Highway 97.
DriveBC had announced the reopening of the highway to single-lane traffic around 9:30 p.m. Monday after an initial closure caused by the same blaze, but it said the road status could change quickly.
The BC Wildfire Service says that although maintaining access to the highway is a priority, the safety of crews and the public is its primary objective.
The wildfire service says the blaze is about 26 square kilometres in size and is burning out of control about 10 kilometres northeast of Summit Lake.
It is one of two "wildfires of note" in the province and prompted the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality to issue an evacuation alert on Monday for the Tetsa River area.
The wildfire service's latest update says the Summit Lake fire "experienced growth overnight," though it had not spread in the direction of Highway 97.
"Much of this fire is in incredibly difficult and inaccessible terrain," the service says. "Ground crews are prioritizing work in accessible areas and helicopters are providing overhead support."
The service says there are more than 70 wildfires burning in the province as of Tuesday morning, more than half of which are considered out of control.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 3, 2025.
Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press
(UPDATE: June 3 at 5:12 am): The highway has now been reopened.
The BC Wildfire Service made the announcement at 9:25 pm on Monday.
It warned, however, of single-lane alternating traffic along a stretch of the road.
(Original story: June 2 at 9:01 pm): Fire season is ramping up in British Columbia as the province's wildfire service warns of hot, dry and windy conditions in the forecast.
The service's latest bulletin says the combination of factors is likely to intensify fire behaviour this week, especially in areas experiencing prolonged drought.
It says that includes the northeastern corner of the province, where most of the active and out-of-control blazes in B.C. are currently located.
The service has added a second blaze in northern B.C. to its list of so-called wildfires of note, saying the Summit Lake fire has forced the closure of a stretch of Highway 97, also known as the Alaska Highway, west of Fort Nelson.
The wildfire service says human activity is the suspected cause of the 21-square-kilometre blaze that was discovered last Wednesday.
It has prompted the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality to issue an evacuation alert for properties along the highway between Steamboat and Summit Lake, meaning any residents must be prepared to leave on short notice.
The blaze is one of 70 active wildfires across the province, with just over half classified as burning out of control.
The service says drought conditions, dry weather and strong winds led to "significant" growth of the Summit Lake fire overnight Sunday into Monday.
It says the blaze has been displaying "aggressive fire behaviour" as it grows southeast towards the highway, which is closed between Steamboat and Toad River.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 2, 2025.
Brenna Owen, The Canadian Press
