Wildfires along the AK Highway - decision point

Today we found out a startling piece of news - the Alaska Highway is closed between Fort Nelson and Watson Lake. There is a huge out-of-control wildfire raging on both sides of the highway near the Smith River. Three communities along the highway have been evacuated. The fires and closure are not even listed on the official BC highways site, so it is difficult to get information. Several news sources reported the highway closed, a couple said intermittent closures.

We are in Prince George so we could continue on to Dawson Creek as planned and take our chances. Or, we could go west and take the Cassier Highway to Watson Lake instead and bypass the fires. We had planned to return by the Cassier and stop at Stuart/Hyder and see the bears fishing for salmon. That doesn't happen until late summer/early fall so we'd miss that.

We had already planned to spend a couple of days in Dawson Creek at Milepost Zero (yesterday I said Milepost 1), probably stop in Ft. St. John and then also spend a couple of days in Ft. Nelson. By then, firefighters might have a handle on the fire. If we go that way, I hope they can keep it from Liard Hot Springs. Right now it is within 17 kilometers from the lodge. The wind shifted the fire in another direction, but could shift back.

We'll decide by tomorrow. An RVer must be flexible! Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Comments

[Nyla Walsh]

Hi
How is your trip going?
Wished we were with you. I miss being on the road.
Hope to be going again soon.
Have you heard about what happened in Eagle, Alaska at the end of the Taylor Hwy?
If you have I was hoping that you could give me an update and if you have not heard. Let me just say they have had a divesting ice overflow that wiped out a lot of the town.
I hoped that you could let your friends know about what happened and maybe we all could send our prayers and thoughts their way, $$ too as it will take lots to rebuild.
Please let me know what you know.
Thanks.
Nyla Walsh
Author of Rambling by RV Through Alaska and Yukon Territory

[Jaimie Hall Bruzenak]

Nyla, We aren't that far north yet but will let you know if we hear anything.

BTW, we have Nyla's book along with us. She has mentioned a number of things we want to include in our trip, though going to Eagle won't be one of them. The road isn't appropriate for our rig.

Jaimie