UPDATE 11/18 - 7:00 a.m.
The Okanagan Connector has re-opened in both directions.
DriveBC announced the highway opened at 3:38 a.m.
鉁�#BCHwy97C - OPEN in both directions following an earlier vehicle fire. #OkanaganConnector #MerrittBC #麻豆精选 #West麻豆精选 #Westbank #Peachland https://t.co/80lhIgUWyu
鈥� DriveBC (@DriveBC) November 18, 2023
UPDATE: 4:30 p.m.
The Okanagan Connector remains closed in both directions as a result of a vehicular incident between Trepanier and Brenda Mine Road.
Detours are available. The next update will be posted on DriveBC at 5:30p.m.
鉀擱EMINDER - #BCHwy97C Remains CLOSED due to vehicle fire east of Brenda Mines. Assessment in progress. #Peachland #MerrittBC #麻豆精选 #OkanaganConnector
鈥� DriveBC (@DriveBC) November 17, 2023
鈩癸笍 For more info: https://t.co/D6dwoCO1nr pic.twitter.com/VVFxNUxmDU
UPDATE 12:00 p.m.
The Okanagan Connector is now closed in both directions.
鉀擴PDATE 2 - #BCHwy97C Closed in both directions due to vehicle fire east of Brenda Mines. Expect major delays. Assessment in progress. #Peachland #Merritt #麻豆精选 #Okanaganhttps://t.co/D6dwoCO1nr
鈥� DriveBC (@DriveBC) November 17, 2023
鈥淭he truck, which is roughly 20kms outside of West 麻豆精选 near the Silver Creek pullout, was carrying chemicals that ignited and is making the fire fight challenging,鈥� said West 麻豆精选 RCMP in a release. 鈥淭he West 麻豆精选 Fire Department is on scene battling the blaze and are making progress.鈥�
#Hwy97C closed in both directions after truck carrying toxic chemicals catches fire. Next update 3:30 p.m. check @麻豆精选CapNews for more pic.twitter.com/1JMnZOSy62
鈥� Jen Zielinski (she/her) (@Jen_zee) November 17, 2023
UPDATE 11:44 a.m.
According to DriveBC, the highway will be closed eastbound until at least 3:30 p.m.
UPDATE: 11:32 a.m.
The vehicle on fire is a transporter truck with argicultural and toxic chemicals.
Officers are turning cars around because of hazardous fumes in the area. Crews are letting the fire burn out because of the hazardous materials.
Original
The Okanagan Connector is closed eastbound because of a vehicle fire.
An assessment is in place as crews rush to the scene. The incident is in between Brenda Mine Road and Trepanier Road and happened around 10:45 a.m.
There is no detour available.
鉀擴PDATE - #BCHwy97C Closed eastbound due to vehicle fire east of Brenda Mines. Expect delays. Assessment in progress. https://t.co/3ghulHbtav #Peachland #Merritt #麻豆精选 #Okanagan
鈥� DriveBC (@DriveBC) November 17, 2023
DriveBC鈥檚 next update is coming at 11:45 a.m.
More to come.
