UPDATE: Coquihalla Highway closed northbound near Highway 3 interchange

A vehicle fire had the northbound lanes of the Coquihalla Highway closed between Hope and Merritt this afternoon.

BC Wildfire Service actioned the fire with a helicopter equipped with a water bucket because conditions are very dry in the area, according to a BC Highway Patrol media release issued today, July 20.

The northbound lanes of Highway 5 were closed at the split with Highway 3 near the Othello pullout, RCMP said. The southbound lanes weren’t impacted and there is no detour.

The highway has since reopened to single lane traffic around the scene of the fire.

Expect traffic congestion through the area.

For the latest on the highway closure go to DriveBC’s website here.

— This story was updated at 4:24 p.m. Tuesday, July 21, 2021 with new information from RCMP.

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