Newcastle Creek, Cameron Lake Bluffs Wildfire Update

The Strathcona Regional District issued a notice yesterday that due to The Newcastle Creek Wildfire and increased winds, the area around Sayward may be impacted by smoke and reduced air quality.

Coastal Fire Centre flew a helicopter over the area yesterday, looking for a new fire, but didn’t find anything.

The Newcastle Creek Fire has NOT left the containment lines and is still held, but it will continue to create variable amounts of smoke in different weather conditions.

Smoke may cause mild irritation and discomfort but can result in a dry cough, sore throat and difficulty breathing.

People with pre-existing health conditions, respiratory infections, older adults, pregnant people, children, and infants are more likely to experience health effects from smoke exposure.

If anything changes, you can be notified by both text message & voice calls to landlines & cell phones on SRD’s Notification system – Alertable - at Alertable.

Meanwhile, Highway 4 is expected to be closed until at least next weekend, when it will open to limited travel, after a wildfire closed the route on June 6.  

Assessment of dangerous trees and slope stability is ongoing with work underway to eventually allow traffic to safely traverse the affected section along Highway 4 at Cameron Lake Bluffs.

Crews continue to clear debris and remove unsafe trees for the installation of protective measures for the public.

A temporary load-bearing wall will be constructed as a safeguard against potential falling debris that could result from an unstable slope. Protective mesh suspended by cranes will act as a barrier to falling rock and trees as the area continues to recover from fire damage.

The phased reopening will initially operate with single-lane-alternating-traffic to support safety measures put in place while the slope continues to recover from the effects of wildfire.

The ministry will continue to monitor the state of recovery before moving toward a full reopening expected in mid-July. Until the highway is fully open, the detour will remain available.

The daily scheduled convoys for commercial vehicles carrying essential goods and services continue.

Visit DriveBC for updated road conditions.