Wildfire closes Highway 1 between Hope and Lytton, prompts evacuations
Posted August 17, 2023 9:17 pm.
Last Updated August 18, 2023 9:27 am.
A growing wildfire has Highway 1 closed between Hope and Lytton and has prompted an evacuation order for a nearby provincial park and its surrounding area.
Mounties say the Kookipi Creek Fire just north of Boston Bar has prompted the evacuation order and warns drivers to stay away from the area.
⛔#BCHwy1 – The highway will remain CLOSED overnight between #HopeBC & #LyttonBC due to the ongoing wildfire.
Next update 9:00am Friday August 18th.
ℹ️https://t.co/bbx2AF7EKe https://t.co/ta2HvtMiyo
— DriveBC (@DriveBC) August 18, 2023
The Fraser Valley Regional District says the fire straddles both the north and south sides of the Nahatlatch River and urges locals to leave the area as soon as possible.
“Due to the threat to life and safety you must leave the designated area immediately … failure to do so could result in injury and loss of life,” reads an excerpt from the evacuation order.
It adds that fire crews are “implementing tactical evacuations.”
According to the BC Wildfire Service, the Kookipi Creek Fire has grown overnight to about 2,000 hectares from 485 hectares in size. The fire is currently classified as being out of control, and the service believes it was caused by lightning.
