Image credit: A helicopter dropping water on the northeast flank of the Mine Creek wildfire on Sept. 14 (Image credit: BC Wildfire Service).

By Aaron Schulze, CFJC Today (B100 Merritt)

Wildfire along Coquihalla Highway

Wildfire of nearly 3,000 hectares between Hope and Merritt now officially under control

Oct 2, 2025 | 10:48 AM

COQUIHALLA HIGHWAY — The Mine Creek wildfire burning along the Coquihalla Highway between Hope and Merritt is now under control.

In an update Wednesday (Oct. 1), the BC Wildfire Service said the fire that briefly closed the stretch of Highway 5 last month is not expected to spread beyond its current perimeter of 2,904.3 hectares or 29.043 square kilometres.

The wildfire service notes that smoke may be visible from within the fire perimeter over the coming days until the area receives significant rain or snow.

While the fire has been classified as being held since Sept. 15, people travelling between Hope and Merritt are still being asked to not stop on the stretch of Highway 5 that is 12 to 31 kilometres north of the Coquihalla Summit as the area remains an active work site.

“We urge anyone recreating or hunting in the area to be extremely careful, as significant hazards may be present,” the BC Wildfire Service added.

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The Mine Creek wildfire was discovered on Sept. 1 and is suspected to be caused by lightning.

Elsewhere, the Sailor Bar wildfire north of Yale is also classified as under control. The 111-hectare suspected human-caused fire led to a brief closure of the CN Rail Line in the Fraser Canyon. It had been classified as being held back on Aug. 30

“Bucketing is available as needed,” the BC Wildfire Service added. “No values are at risk.”

As of publication, there are four active wildfires within the Kamloops Fire Centre. Of them, three are under control and one is being held. Provincially, there are 101 active fires in B.C., with three of those considered to be out of control.

As of Wednesday, the fire danger rating in the Kamloops Fire Centre is mostly low and moderate.