Northern B.C. wildfire nudges key northern highway, Island route still cut by flames

The BC Wildfire Service reports more than 80 active wildfires across the province, with 37 ranked as out of control.

Thick smoke from the White Rock Lake wildfire fills the air and nearly blocks out the sun just after 3 p.m. as a motorist travels on Highway 97 in Monte Lake, east of Kamloops, B.C., Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021. A key highway that connects Yukon and northern British Columbia to southern parts of the province is now threatened by the huge Donnie Creek wildfire as the blaze chews through woodlands south of Fort Nelson.

If the 4,875-square-kilometre blaze cuts the highway, residents north of Fort Nelson could face a more than 1,700-kilometre detour via highways 37 and 16, if they need to travel south by main roads. The Island fire has charred just over two square kilometres of trees on steep hillside above the only highway linking Port Alberni, Tofino and Ucluelet to the rest of the region, and officials say safety concerns will keep Highway 4 closed until at least June 24.

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