Image Credit: Contributed

By Victor Kaisar

Evacuation Orders

TNRD issues evacuation orders, alerts due to Mine Creek fire near Coquihalla

Sep 3, 2025 | 9:28 PM

MERRITT, B.C. — The Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) has issued an evacuation order and an evacuation alert in connection with the Mine Creek wildfire.

The evacuation order covers one property – 6705 Juliet Drive – in Electoral Area “N” (Beautiful Nicola Valley – South). The evacuation alert covers 84 addressed properties in Area “N” including the community of Brookmere.

Area under evacuation order and alerts as of Sept. 3, 2025. (Image Credit: TNRD)

The TNRD has also activated its Emergency Operations Centre Thursday (Sept. 3) evening in response to the Mine Creek fire.

“[We are] in contact with the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) and other external agencies, and more information will be forthcoming,” a statement from the TNRD said.

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The Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) has also issued an evacuation alert for the area of Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area north to its border with the TNRD.

The 483 hectare Mine Creek fire has forced the closure of the Coquihalla Highway between Hope and Merritt. Video shared on social media appears to show that the fire has jumped the highway.

Drivers heading to or from the Lower Mainland are being told to detour via Highway 1 or Highway 3. Highway 8 between Merritt and Spences Bridge is also off limits to commercial vehicles which has been the case for the past few years when either the Coquihalla or the Trans-Canada is closed for any reason.

According to the BC Wildfire Service, the Mine Creek fire was burning Rank 5, meaning an extremely vigorous surface fire or active crown fire, with spot fires occurring ahead of the fire.

There are ground and aerial crews – including structural protection teams – responding to this lightning-caused fire, which was discovered on Sept. 1. The BC Wildfire Service was previously using a “modified response” on this fire, meaning its managed “using a combination of techniques to minimize damage while maximizing ecological benefits from the fire.

“Crews will continue to action the fire overnight with the support of a helicopter,” the BC Wildfire Service said in its Thursday evening update.

About 50 BC Hydro customers in the vicinity of the fire are also without power this evening because of the fire. You can find updates on the status of the outages here.

For the latest from the BC Wildfire Service, go here. For the latest on evacuation orders and alerts from the TNRD, go here.