Wildfire Forces Closure of Highway 52 in Northeast B.C. Near Tumbler Ridge

A section of Highway 52 North, also known as the Heritage Highway, has been closed due to a nearby wildfire burning in northeastern British Columbia.

The closure, located approximately 74 kilometres north of Tumbler Ridge near Brassey Road, was first implemented at 7 a.m. PT Thursday. The route briefly reopened to single-lane alternating traffic but was closed again just after 9:30 a.m.

DriveBC says the wildfire is located between Brassey Road and Bearhole Lake Road, southwest of Dawson Creek and near the Alberta border.

The closure comes a week after the B.C. Wildfire Service warned of continued drought conditions in the region, which are contributing to elevated wildfire risk. While some areas of the province have seen a slower start to fire season, northeastern B.C. is experiencing unusually warm and dry conditions.

Drivers are advised to check DriveBC for the latest updates, with the next scheduled update expected at 2 p.m. PT.