The Nahatlatch Forest Service Road at the west end of Nahatlatch Lake will stay closed until further notice to help protect public safety and give unhindered access to wildfire crews. This closure will remain in effect until further notice.

The Nahatlatch Forest Service Road runs west from Boston Bar on the north side of the Nahatlatch River. A lightning storm that passed through the Fraser Canyon and surrounding areas on July 14, 2014, ignited wildfires in the Fraser Canyon, Nahatlatch River and Mehatl Creek drainages. Wildfire Management Branch personnel are co-ordinating and directing firefighting efforts to deal with multiple fires within the Fraser Canyon and surrounding areas.

The Mehatl Creek fire (V10237) began on the border of Mehatl Creek Provincial Park and the Nahatlatch River valley and it has now advanced to the Nahatlatch Forest Service Road. This fire, covering about 600 hectares, is burning in steep and rugged terrain. Wildfire Management Branch crews are engaged in limited action to stall the fire growth’s eastward down the Nahatlatch Valley. Current weather patterns have allowed additional firefighting resources from other areas to be redeployed to this fire.

To help ensure public safety, an information kiosk has been set up at about the 15-kilometre mark on the Nahatlatch Forest Service Road. Information will be posted as needed about the road closure and any changes in fire conditions that may affect the area.

Travellers are urged to respect the road closure and avoid this area, since weather and fire behaviour can change rapidly. Updates on the fires and road closure status will be provided if conditions change.

The Coastal Fire Centre covers the area west of the height of land on the Coast Mountain Range from the U.S.-Canada border at Manning Park, including South Tweedsmuir Park in the north, the Sunshine Coast, the Lower Mainland, all of Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and Haida Gwaii.

To report a wildfire or unattended campfire, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone.

For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, go to: http://bcwildfire.ca

You can also follow the latest wildfire news:

• On Twitter at http://twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo
• On Facebook at http://facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo

Media Contacts:

Marg Drysdale
Fire Information Officer
Wildfire Management Branch
Coastal Fire Centre
250 951.4209 (media line)
Marg.Drysdale@gov.bc.ca