Highway 4 has been cut since June 6 because of the Cameron Bluffs wildfire and isn't expected to fully open until mid-July.
When Vicky Murphy moved just outside Port Alberni on Vancouver Island two years ago, she never anticipated a wildfire would close a vital route into town, setting off her family’s teeth-jarring journey down a forestry back road to get out.
Transportation Minister Rob Fleming said during an update on the highway that the route had to be closed because of the danger of trees and rocks falling from the steep slope where the fire burned above. “They were flying past me, so it’s just like, hold your breath, shut your eyes, and just hope that they stay on their side of the road,” she said. “That was the scariest thing.”
Brad Parsell, executive director of Tourism Tofino, said in an interview “there have been significant losses in revenue across the board in all sectors and obviously significant drops in hotel occupancy.” He said the losses to the community are already in the millions, and he’s hoping for some sort of government support for businesses affected by the highway closure, which is expected to last weeks before it can fully reopen.
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