Image: BC Wildfire Service

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Fire jumps Hwy. 1 in Fraser Canyon

Fire northwest of Boston Bar crosses Hwy. 1, Nahatlatch lookout tower reportedly destroyed

Aug 18, 2023 | 10:01 AM

BOSTON BAR — BC Wildfire Service says the Kookipi Creek wildfire northwest of Boston Bar has jumped Highway 1, resulting in the closure of the highway between Hope and Lytton.

In a social media post on X (formerly known as Twitter) late Thursday night, BCWS says it continues to respond to the Kookipi Creek wildfire (V11337) originally located approximately 16 kilometers northwest of Boston Bar and seven kilometers east of Nahatlatch Lake.

BCWS reports that elevated winds, following a period of hot, dry conditions, have resulted in extreme fire behaviour and further growth to north and east past the Nahatlatch and Fraser Rivers. The fire crossed Highway 1, which resulted in the closure of the highway in both directions.

It is approximately 2000 hectares in size and is considered highly vigorous surface and crown fire. BCWS says the safety of responders and the public remains its top priority.

BCWS says it is using three ground crews, three helicopters and a bird-dog aircraft to fight the fire.

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Meanwhile, the Nahatlatch lookout tower west of Hwy. 1 in Fraser Canyon has been reportedly destroyed by the fire, according to video shared by Chilliwack resident Matt Sutton-Atkins and viewed by a Fraser Valley Today reporter.

There is no power in Boston Bar right now, according to the BC Hydro outage website, affecting 554 customers. Their power has been off since 8:40 p.m. Thursday night. Crews have been assigned to the power outage.