It may come as no surprise for those with relatives in the BC Interior, but the Coquihalla Highway (Highway 5) has shut down between Hope and Merritt, as wildfires engulf the area. The direction comes from BC Transportation, and more information will come at 4PM local time today.
Woah! That was a terrifying experience driving the #coquihalla, just north of Britton Creek. I’m shaking! 😱💔 We made it through just as they were stopping southbound traffic @DriveBC #bcwildfires #Kamloops 7pm August 15, 2021 pic.twitter.com/1hOepHLSmE
— Marina LeClair (@MarinaLeClair) August 16, 2021
There are currently over 250 wildfires around BC, with a high concentration in the Interior region. While this has been an ongoing issue for weeks, situations reached a dire state over the weekend. This has led to evacuation orders and alerts for a number of communities, including West Kelowna, Vernon and Kamloops. You can check out the full list here.
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To help avoid traffic congestion on evacuation routes, we are urging people to stay away from BC Interior highways near #BCWildfires.
Limited visibility due to smoke is impacting many areas; here's what you need to know if you MUST travel in these areas: https://t.co/NC7PbtEzBd pic.twitter.com/G3y2feeT7I— BC Transportation (@TranBC) August 16, 2021
4 o'clock in the afternoon and dark as night, west of Spallumcheen, BC.
Terrifying. @weathernetwork #bcwildfires pic.twitter.com/gyqGTXv5LB
— Kyle Brittain (@KyleTWN) August 15, 2021
For those who are travelling in the area, and not residents, it is advised that you safely return home, rather than staying in nearby hotels and other accommodations. Anecdotal reports have come out that emergency lodging has proven difficult, especially for tourist-heavy communities.
PLEASE RETWEET (photo from #Coquihalla last night)
Prepare for highway closures due to #BCWildfires – we may have to take action with limited notice.
Avoid non-essential travel to/within impacted areas to avoid traffic congestion on evacuation routes: https://t.co/QKhf3bl9Cl pic.twitter.com/ZUyhpE2AXe— BC Transportation (@TranBC) August 16, 2021
Finally, for those not affected by the fires, but looking to help, the Canadian Red Cross has set up a fund specifically to help cover expenses for those forced to evacuate. Additionally, the Vancouver Firefighter Charities will be hosting a fundraiser this Thursday, August 19th for the same cause. Donations will be matched by the federal government, so every $1 donated means $2 of funding.
Stay safe out there, folks.
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