Smoke can be seen from two wildfires burning near Peachland and Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park, Wednesday, July 18, 2018.
(MARSHALL JONES / iNFOnews.ca)
Republished July 18, 2018 - 5:47 PM
Original Publication Date July 18, 2018 - 4:12 PM
PEACHLAND - RCMP have temporarily reopened Highway 97 near Peachland after it was closed in both directions earlier this afternoon due to a nearby wildfire.
Media relations officer Cpl. Jesse O'Donaghey said in a press release the highway was closed at around 3:30 p.m. today, July 18, near Brent Road and Antlers Beach and that additional officers from the South Okangan have closed the highway south of Peachland. He said the closures were necessary for the safety of the public because the wildfire is burning towards the highway.
Drive B.C. now says as a short term measure, the highway is open to single lane, alternating traffic with an RCMP escort between Peachland and Summerland. You can expect heavy delays.
It's expected the highway will close again at 8 p.m. It's not known when the route will completely reopen following tonight's closure.
Drive B.C. is recommending alternate routes. The alternate routes are via Highway 97C, Highway 5A and Highway 3.
For the latest on the road closure go to the Drive B.C. website here.
— This story was updated at 5:02 p.m. Wednesday, July 18, 2018 to include new information from RCMP.
— This story was updated at 5:37 p.m. Wednesday, July 18, 2018 to include new information from Drive B.C.
— This story was corrected at 7:05 p.m. for a spelling error that previously read, "completed" when it should have read, "completely."
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