Motorists are advised that Highway 16 is closed in both directions from Montgomery Road near Topley to the North Road 18 kilometres west of Burns Lake, due to the wildfire at China Nose.

A detour is available for all traffic except for overwidth, overlength and overweight vehicles, via Highway 35, the Colleymount Road, the Owen East Forest Service Road and the Morice River Forest Service Road. Pilot cars are piloting vehicles between the Colleymount Road and the Morice River Forest Service on the Owen East Forest Service Road. The detour route is 150 kilometres long and is comprised of paved and gravel roads. Travellers should fuel up in Houston or Burns Lake before travelling the detour route.

For the latest updates, motorists are encouraged to plan their routes in advance and check DriveBC: www.drivebc.ca

Flaggers are on Highway 16 and the detour route to maintain traffic control and provide travel information and traffic direction. Handouts with maps will be handed out to travellers.

For the latest information on fire activity, conditions and prohibitions, visit the Wildfire Management Branch website: www.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:

Media Relations
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
250 356-8241