2 Interior highways reopen after wildfires threatened traffic

A pair of out-of-control wildfires are threatening two different highways in the Interior region of B.C.

A new wildfire burning near Peachland in the Okanagan had closed Highway 97 in both directions Wednesday morning.

As of 4 p.m., DriveBC says Highway 97 has reopened to alternating traffic.

The fire is currently 1.3 hectares in size, the BC Wildfire Service says.

“Two initial attack crews, two response officers, a helicopter, a water tender and both the Peachland and Summerland Fire Departments are responding. The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, and the RCMP are also responding,” the BCWS shared in an update online.

Meanwhile, a formerly out-of-control wildfire near Boston Bar off Highway 1 had grown to three hectares in size. As of Wednesday afternoon, BCWS says the fire is being held. DriveBC says Highway 1 has fully reopened.

The fire is burning near the CN Rail tracks in the area. The BC Wildfire Service says smoke is highly visible from Highway 1 and the surrounding areas, but the highway remains open for now.

It’s unclear how the fire broke out, but the wildfire service lists it as being “human-caused”