Latest news with #AlaskaHighway
CBC
7 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
Alaska Highway closed again by wildfire in B.C.'s far north
A raging wildfire in B.C.'s far north has, once again, prompted the closure of the Alaska Highway (Highway 97) in both directions west of Fort Nelson. The Summit Lake wildfire, which grew overnight and now covers 26.3 square kilometres, was first discovered on May 28, but grew aggressively between Sunday and Monday, prompting a highway closure for much of Monday. While the Alaska Highway partially reopened to allow single-lane alternating traffic around 9:30 p.m. PT on Monday, it was closed again around 12 p.m. PT on Tuesday due to the blaze. Commuters have been asked to check DriveBC for the latest on the stretch, with no detour available. An evacuation alert remains in place for a stretch of the highway in the Tetsa Lake area, with the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality warning people there to be ready to leave at a moment's notice. The B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) said in an online update that, while maintaining access to the critical Highway 97 stretch was a priority, the safety of crews and the public was its primary objective. "This wildfire experienced growth overnight; none of the growth was in the direction of Highway 97 or toward identified assets," the Tuesday update reads. "Weather will continue to have impacts on fire behaviour and highway access." The BCWS said in its update that it conducted a planned ignition on Monday to limit the wildfire's impact on the highway, and larger planned ignitions would be conducted on Tuesday. "Much of this fire is in incredibly difficult and inaccessible terrain," the update reads. "Ground crews are prioritizing work in accessible areas, and helicopters are providing overhead support." Wildfires concentrated in north Sarah Budd, a BCWS fire information officer, said that the bulk of wildfire activity was occurring in the northern half of the province, particularly the northeast corner. As of Tuesday afternoon, there were just under 70 fires burning in B.C. "In the northeast, where we have the bulk of our current fire activity, we are expecting slightly higher winds today and tomorrow," she told CBC News on Tuesday. "And with significantly higher winds on Thursday and Friday into the weekend, while we don't anticipate lightning or precipitation today or tomorrow, what we do think we're going to see is an extension of ... hot, dry, windy conditions." Both of B.C.'s "wildfires of note" — those that are particularly visible or pose a threat to public safety — are in northern B.C., the Summit Lake wildfire being one of them. The Kiskatinaw River wildfire near the B.C.-Alberta border in northeastern B.C. has led to 55 addresses being put on evacuation order, and officials say strong winds increased fire activity on that blaze. As of Tuesday afternoon, it covers an area of just under 40 square kilometres. Highway 52 East remains closed in the area due to the blaze, which is burning close to the Pembina Steeprock gas processing facility.
CBC
02-06-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Aggressive wildfire closes Alaska Highway in B.C.'s far north
The Summit Lake wildfire west of Fort Nelson, B.C., closed the Alaska Highway (Highway 97) in the province's far north Monday afternoon. DriveBC first posted about the highway closure just before 10:30 a.m. PT on Monday, with no detour available on the critical route leading west from Fort Nelson, located around 1,050 kilometres northeast of Vancouver. The B.C. Wildfire Service said in a Monday update that the wildfire was "displaying aggressive fire behaviour" and growing towards the highway. "Due to ongoing drought conditions, dry weather and strong winds, this wildfire experienced significant overnight growth on June 1 into June 2," the service said in its update. The Summit River blaze currently covers an area of 21.25 square kilometres, and is classified as a "wildfire of note" — which means it is particularly visible or poses a threat to public safety. It is suspected to have been caused by human activity, a broad category of blazes that refers to any fire not started by lightning. The next update on the Alaska Highway closure is expected at 8 a.m. local time on Tuesday.
CBC
15-05-2025
- CBC
Police charge driver involved in collision that killed Yukon deputy minister last year
Yukon RCMP have charged a man with several driving offences in connection with a collision last August on the Alaska Highway that killed a Yukon civil servant and hospitalized the territory's environment minister. In a news release on Thursday, police said Robert James Smallwood is facing two counts of dangerous driving, as well as careless driving and driving at an unreasonable speed. The collision happened on Aug. 2 just south of Whitehorse at the intersection of the highway and Swan Haven Drive. Environment Minister Nils Clarke and deputy environment minister Michael Prochazka were leaving a salmon celebration held at McClintock Bay Resort when their truck was hit by another vehicle on the highway and Prochazka was killed. Clarke was medevaced to Vancouver for treatment. Smallwood is due to appear in court in Whitehorse on June 25.
Globe and Mail
15-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
CEO Clips - Yukon Metals: Advancing High-Grade Copper & Precious Metals Exploration
Drilling High-Grade Gold, Silver and Copper Projects with Superb Access in the Yukon Yukon's mineral-rich landscape offers district-scale potential, and Yukon Metals is actively advancing exploration to unlock the region's next major discovery. Backed by the legendary Berdahl family, the company is set to begin drilling this Spring at two highly-prospective projects—Star River and AZ—both offering exceptional accessibility and high-grade mineralization. The flagship Star River project hosts bonanza-grade gold (101 g/t Au) and silver (10,936 g/t Ag) at surface, with the added advantage of an all-weather access road and a large stream running through the property. Magnetic and gravity survey highs align with the highest concentrations of silver and the most significant gold grades, strengthening the project's exploration potential. Meanwhile, the AZ project hosts 3.5% copper outcropping just six kilometers from the Alaska Highway, at Chair Mountain. Chair Mountain sits on one end of a1.2-km-long Gossan Zone, which itself is part of a larger trend that extends for five kilometers, where historical trenching by the Berdahl's returned 10.3% copper. With an initial 4,000-meter drill program at Star River and 2,000 meters at AZ set to begin in May, Yukon Metals is working to unlock the full potential of these mineral-rich properties in one of Canada's most prospective mining jurisdictions. Published by BTV - The Agency
CBC
08-05-2025
- CBC
2 people dead, 1 injured after Alaska Highway collision near Teslin, Yukon
Two people were killed and another person suffered minor injuries in a collision on the Alaska Highway near Teslin, Yukon, early Wednesday morning. In a news release on Thursday, RCMP said the crash involved a sedan and a commercial tractor trailer in a head-on collision. Police say it happened at about 4 a.m. on Wednesday, just north of Teslin. The release says two people were pronounced dead at the scene, and a third person was treated for minor injuries. Police say they're still investigating along with the territory's coroner but there is "no evidence of criminality at this time."
