The highway connecting British Columbia and the Northwest Territories reopened on Wednesday, a day after closing over the threat of nearby wildfires.
Highway 77 in BC and Highway 7 in the NWT, which connect to each other at the border, closed for weeks in May when Fort Nelson was evacuated and Fort Liard also under threat.
Occasional closures have followed in subsequent weeks.
At 7pm on Tuesday, Highway 77 closed again “due to increased wildfire activity,” the provincial government said on its road conditions website, Drive BC.
Earlier, residents had reported a string of spot fires easily visible from the highway as they returned north to the NWT.
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NWT Fire said ash falling in the area was likely coming from a fire 33 km west of Fort Liard, which is currently posing no risk to the community or any cabins and is being monitored.
Heavy rain is anticipated in the region over the next few days, which is expected to clear the smoke and ash currently sitting over parts of the Dehcho during a heat advisory that has persisted for the past couple of days.
By Wednesday afternoon, authorities in BC and the NWT said the two highways had reopened. However, travellers were urged to check conditions in BC and the NWT before travel.
