Fires ravaging the Coquihalla Highway in British Columbia lead to evacuation orders and alerts issued.

In the heart of British Columbia, the Mine Creek wildfire near Hope and Merritt along the Coquihalla Highway has been causing concern. The fire, which has reached 1,900 hectares in size, has forced the evacuation of one property and has led to an air quality warning for the Lower Mainland.

The BC Wildfire Service has reported extremely vigorous surface fire activity or active crown fire with the Mine Creek fire. Video footage on social media shows large trees engulfed in flames on both sides of the Coquihalla Highway, and drivers have reported going through showers of embers before the highway was shut down.

The Coquihalla Highway remains shuttered between Hope and Merritt, and motorists are advised to take Highways 1 and 3 as alternatives. Unfortunately, the cause of the Mine Creek wildfire remains unknown.

B.C. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar had warned about an expected rise in wildfire activity due to lightning in the forecast and recent high temperatures. He also stated that the situation in Metro Vancouver could worsen in the next few days. An air quality warning is already in place for the Lower Mainland, as the smoke from the wildfires has caused Metro Vancouver to be covered in haze.

Despite the ongoing fire, approximately 84 properties along the Coquihalla Highway are on alert, but no new evacuations have been ordered. The Mine Creek fire is displaying an intensity level of Rank 5, which is the highest level on a scale of six.

The Mine Creek fire is not the only wildfire causing issues in the province. The Coquihalla Highway was closed on Wednesday near the fire location, and the situation could continue to evolve as the wildfire season progresses. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.