(UPDATE: April 29 @ 11 am) - Crews have been working steadily on the Ferrabee wildfire over the past few days.
Their hard work has resulted in a status change today, as the BC Wildfire Service says the incident is now considered held at 53 hectares.
That means it's not expected to grow beyond its current perimeter or control line based on fuel and weather conditions.
Crews gaining the upper hand on the wildfire, which sparked on April 23, is largely thanks to a successful planned ignition that was conducted earlier this week.
(UPDATE: April 24 @ 11:20 am) - There's a new estimated size for the Ferrabee Fire just off Hwy 1 near Hell's Gate.
According to the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS), the fire showed "minimal growth" overnight and a clearer picture of the incident has led to a downgrade in size.
It's now estimated at 27 hectares and out of control.
The latest update says the fire is now showing mainly Rank 1 fire behaviour as opposed to the Rank 2 behaviour it displayed after sparking on Thursday.
While there has been no full closure of Hwy 1, the BCWS says periodic lane closures are possible due to crews and equipment working along the route.
(UPDATE: April 24 @ 6:24 am) - The wildfire near Hwy 1 in the Hell's Gate area remains out of control at 40 hectares early this morning.
In an update at 6 am, BC Wildfire Service said the fire is displaying Rank 2 fire behaviour.
The blaze, named the Ferrabee Fire, "is burning in steep terrain with some areas being inaccessible to ground crews," officials said.
Motorists have been warned that "travel along this portion of the highway may be interrupted by the presence of crews and equipment in the area."
(UPDATE: April 23 @ 7 pm) - The wildfire beside the Trans-Canada Highway (Hwy 1) near Hell's Gate has grown to 40 hectares.
Now dubbed the Ferrabee wildfire, the BC Wildfire Service says it is displaying rank two behaviour but burning in steep terrain with certain areas "inaccessible to ground crews."
"We are responding with initial attack crews, response officers, bucketing helicopters, and heavy equipment," a BCWS update explained.
"This fire is highly visible from Hwy 1 and nearby communities, and travel along this portion of the highway may be interrupted by the presence of crews and equipment in the area."
However, DriveBC has not indicated any delays or closures along Hwy 1 through the Fraser Canyon at this time.
(Original story: April 23 @ 4 pm) - An out-of-control wildfire is burning just east of the Trans-Canada Highway (Hwy 1) in the Fraser Canyon.
The BC Wildfire Service says initial attack crews, response officers, a water tender and two helicopters have been assigned to the fire south of Hell’s Gate.
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It sparked late Thursday morning and is currently estimated at 2.5 hectares, although it’s producing a notable plume of smoke.
According to the BCWS, the fire is suspected to be human caused.
Despite the fire’s close proximity to Hwy 1, DriveBC has not shared any details about a potential highway closure at this time.
NowMedia will update this story as more information becomes available.
