UPDATE
A re‐opening for essential traffic only is planned to begin this afternoon, Monday, July 17, with single lane alternating traffic. It is possible that the highway may close again if conditions warrant.
There will be three openings with a pilot car this afternoon at 2, 4 and 6 p.m. from the Firvale side and from 3, 5 and 7 p.m. from the avalanche gates near Anahim Lake.
The road will be closed overnight.
Details are available at DriveBC.ca.
Today there are 28 personnel assigned to the fire and an additional unit crew of 22 will be en route over the next 48 hours, the Coastal Fire Centre said in its Monday update on the fire.
One helicopter and heavy equipment are assisting firefighters today.
Heavy equipment has begun work on the construction of a contigency guard along the south flank of the fire with the goal of limiting any impact to transportation corridors.
Cooler and more humid conditions with a small to moderate amount of rain are in the forecast for Monday and Tuesday.
ORIGINAL:
The Young Creek fire in Tweedsmuir Park has grown to 2,500 hectares as of Monday, July 17 and Highway 20 remains closed as a result.
DriveBC reported at 12:13 p.m. Monday the next update will be Tuesday, July 18 at 10 a.m.
Reported in the afternoon of July 15, the Young Creek fire demonstrated aggressive behaviour and grew rapidly through an area of dead timber.
On the afternoon of July 16 a shift in the wind caused the fire to grow quickly towards Highway 20 crossing it that evening. As of July 16 Highway 20 has been closed by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure between Elcy Road on the Anahim Lake side and the avalanche gate at Corbould Dr. on the Bella Coola side.
See DriveBC for more detail and the latest information on highway closures.
People who are in need of services should call 1-250-982-0062 for help in the Bella Coola Valley.
An Emergency Support Centre (ESS) Reception Centre was set-up (Sunday evening, July 16) at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex in Williams Lake (525 Proctor St) for those who may be stranded and unable to return home due to the Highway 20 road closure.
“If you require emergency support services, please call 250-267-4861 prior to checking in at the Reception Centre,” notes the CRD EOS.
⛔️ REMINDER – #BCHwy20 is CLOSED in both directions between Corbould Dr and Beef Trail Forest Service Rd due to the Young Creek wildfire.
No detour is available. Next update is July 18 at approximately 10:00am.#AnahimLake #BellaCoolaℹ️ More info: https://t.co/VfERgjRrdA pic.twitter.com/F7IODekclt
— DriveBC C (@DriveBC_C) July 17, 2023
Motorists should not to stop on the road to view, or photograph #wildfires🚫as it simply not safe, or prudent to do so.
The Fire Danger Map is updated daily and can be found here: https://t.co/ayvAlPZWJV
ℹ️#BCWildfire map, includes a smoke forecast tool: https://t.co/WN6JpmyX04 pic.twitter.com/1KKaaee06J
— DriveBC (@DriveBC) July 16, 2023
READ MORE: Aggressive wildfire crosses road; closes Highway 20 to Bella Coola
With files from Angie Mindus
monica.lamb-yorski@wltribune.com
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