More mudslide closures

Photo: BC Wildfire Service

The High Creek wildfire between Hope and Agassiz (pictured) has forced the closure of Highway 7 through the area and the nearby Sasquatch Provincial Park.

UPDATE: 9:10 p.m.

The Trans-Canada Highway is closed midway between Kamloops and Savona due to a mudslide, DriveBC reports.

Another update on the highway's status isn't expected until early Sunday morning. Drivers can use Highway 5 northbound as an alternate route.

Mudslides have also closed Highway 97 between Cache Creek and Clinton, as well as Highway 99 near Hat Creek Road. It's not clear when either of those highways will reopen.

Highway 7 between Hope and Agassiz and Highway 93 through Kootenay National Park also remain closed due to wildfire activity. A travel advisory is in place along Highway 3 through the Kootenay Pass due to nearby wildfires.

UPDATE: 6:45 p.m.

The Crowsnest Highway is now reopened through the Kootenay Pass after being closed Saturday afternoon due to wildfire activity.

DriveBC has put a travel advisory in place, noting a closure may occur again suddenly if fire activity picks up.

UPDATE: 5:45 p.m.

Mudslides have closed Highway 97 in both directions between Cache Creek and Clinton as well as Highway 99 near Hat Creek Road, DriveBC reports.

Closures due to forest fire activity remain in place for sections of Highways 3, 7 and 93.

ORIGINAL: 3:55 p.m.

Weekend travellers — be advised wildfire activity has several highways currently closed in the southern half of B.C.

In the Lower Mainland, Highway 7 is blocked off between Chowat Road and the Johnson Slough rest area, between Agassiz and Hope, to allow crews rooms to fight the 120-hectare High Creek wildfire. The popular Sasquatch Provincial Park has also been evacuated due to the fire burning just south, and will be closed until further notice.

Motorists can still use the Trans-Canada Highway to Hope, and from Agassiz Highways 9 and 1 are the alternate route.

The Crowsnest Highway is closed through the Kootenay Pass due to fire activity, from the junction with Highway 6 to the junction with Highway 21 (just west of Creston). Travellers can use Highway 6 and Highway 3A as a detour, through Nelson, Balfour, the Kootenay Lake ferry and Creston.

Near the Alberta border, Highway 93 remains shut between Radium Hot Springs and the junction with the Trans-Canada due to fire activity near the highway. An alternate route is available through Golden, via Highways 1 and 95.

There is no estimated time of reopening for any of the highway closures. 

DriveBC also notes that its highway webcams are temporarily out of operation.

"Our technicians have been notified... Apologies for any inconveniences, we appreciate your patience," DriveBC said on Twitter, just before 3:30 p.m.