Truck containing volatile material catches fire, closes B.C.’s Highway 97C

MERRITT, B.C. – British Columbia’s Okanagan Connector is closed to traffic because of fire in a commercial truck containing flammable material.

Merritt RCMP staff Sgt. Lorne Wood says the route has been shut in both directions and drivers will need to watch for the latest information on the Drive BC site to plan their travels to and from the Lower Mainland.

Police say they were told about the truck fire about 1 a.m. Tuesday.

Because the contents of the truck are extremely volatile, police closed the route while crews worked to assess safety at the site.

Transport Canada has been notified of the fire.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 31, 2019.