Single-lane traffic on Highway 52 due to wildfire

TUMBLER RIDGE, B.C. — Traffic on Highway 52 has been reduced to a single lane with alternating traffic due to a wildfire. 

According to DriveBC, an update on May 22 at 10.33 a.m. states that a single lane with alternating traffic will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., daily and will be open overnight, between Kelly Lake and Stone Creek Road for 33.4 kilometres. 

The Sunderman Creek wildfire, discovered on May 14th and now considered “under control,” has spread to 182 hectares as of May 22nd. 

As of May 22nd, there are no evacuation orders or alerts for the area related to this blaze. 

Currently, ground resources have completed laying a machine guard, also known as a firebreak or dozer guard, and have laid hoses around the fire’s perimeter. One initial attack and two unit crews are responding to this wildfire. 

In addition, crews are patrolling and extinguishing hotspots as they are identified. 

According to the BC Wildfire Service, humans are suspected of causing the wildfire. 

As of 11:30 a.m., DriveBC said the next update will be available at 12 p.m. on May 25th.

Energeticcity.ca reached out to the Prince George Fire Centre for a comment and will update this story as more information becomes available.