(UPDATE) Alaska Highway reopens again amid wildfire near Fort Nelson

Updated, June 3rd, 11 p.m.: This story was updated because the stretch of the Alaska Highway has reopened once again. 

FORT NELSON, B.C. — The stretch of the Alaska Highway near Fort Nelson that closed on Monday due to a nearby wildfire has been reopened to single lane traffic for a second time.

There is single-lane alternating traffic between kilometres 536 and 589, according to Public Services and Procurement Canada.

In a post around 12 p.m., DriveBC said the status could change quickly depending on wildfire activity.

The BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) says the blaze is about 2,628 hectares in size and is burning out of control about 10 kilometres northeast of Summit Lake.

It is one of two “wildfires of note” in the province and prompted the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality to issue an evacuation alert on Monday for the Tetsa River Area.

The wildfire service’s latest update says the so-called Summit Lake fire “experienced significant overnight growth” between Sunday and Monday and “continues to display aggressive fire behaviour,” growing towards Highway 97.

The service says there are more than 70 wildfires burning in the province as of Tuesday morning, 50 per cent of which are considered out of control.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 3rd, 2025.

Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press