Image credit: Melissa McGillivary via Facebook/Coquihalla Road Reports (And Area)

By Aaron Schulze

Mine Creek Wildfire

Mine Creek wildfire grows to 1,900 hectares, crosses Coquihalla Highway

Sep 4, 2025 | 9:41 AM

KAMLOOPS — The BC Wildfire Service is warning of a dynamic situation on the Mine Creek wildfire burning along the Coquihalla Highway north of Hope.

As of Thursday (Sept. 4) morning, the Mine Creek wildfire is measured at around 1,900 hectares in size, and its nearly quadrupled from the last update of 483 hectares.

Taylor Stewart Shantz, a fire information officer in the Kamloops Fire Centre, said most of the fire’s growth was to the east. Due to “flowing burning pieces,” the Mine Creek wildfire crossed the stretch of Highway 5.

The wildfire service currently has one initial attack crew and four helicopters on site although additional resources will flown in throughout the day.

“The flanks of the fire are in very steep, rocky terrain and are difficult to address,” Stewart Shantz told CFJC Today. “The main focus will be conducting work around the highway to shore that up and make sure conditions become safe, and looking at addressing areas that are operable for both crews and aerial resources — while still keeping a focus on protecting infrastructure in the area.”

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Stewart Shantz added crews are expecting a few more days of above seasonal average temperatures near the Mine Creek wildfire, along with a little bit of wind.

While the conditions aren’t favourable for responding to wildfires, she noted the time of year is helping, as September has earlier sunsets than the peak of summer.

“We’re seeing okay recoveries overnight and cooler temperatures in the morning, and that results in decreased fire behaviour,” Stewart Shantz added. “As we head into the afternoon, things will have to be reassessed. Because we are expecting to see that jump in temperatures with a little bit of wind which could bring that fire activity up to Rank 3, 4 or 5 levels, which are not safe for our crews to be in the vicinity of.”

As of publication, there are nine active wildfires in the Kamloops Fire Centre, with two of them out of control.

Despite quieter fire activity outside of the Mine Creek wildfire, Stewart Shantz said the region is still dry after two weeks of above seasonal average temperatures. The fire danger rating for the Kamloops Fire Centre ranks high-to-extreme as of noon Wednesday.

Image credit: BC Wildfire Service

The Coquihalla Highway between Hope and Merritt remains closed in both directions, and DriveBC expects to have another update at 2:30 p.m. Updates can be found here.

Late Wednesday, the Thompson-Nicola Regional District issued an evacuation order and alert for a number of properties in Electoral Area “N” (Beautiful Nicola Valley – South) due to the Mine Creek wildfire.