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Wildfire Closes Highway-1 Near Malahat Summit

UPDATED at 10pm – Highway-1 between Duncan and Victoria was closed Tuesday evening near the Malahat Summit when several small fires were reported by drivers along the route.

A seven-kilometre section of the highway from Whittaker Road and Mill Bay Road to 3 kilometres south of the Malahat summit was closed at around 7 pm as fire crews rushed to the scene.

A detour was established around the area using Shawnigan Lake Road.

The Malahat Fire Department responded with support from the Mill Bay Fire Department and fire fighters from the BC Wildfire Service.

DriveBC reports the highway was fully reopened around 9:45 pm.

There is no word on what caused the fires.

UPDATED at 9:40pm – Traffic is moving again along Highway-1 between Duncan and Victoria after the route was closed this evening near the Malahat Summit while firefighters dealt with four separate fires along the route.

A seven-kilometre section of the highway was shut down from Whittaker Road and Mill Bay Road to 3 kilometres south of the Malahat summit at around 7 pm as fire crews rushed to the scene.

A detour was established around the area using Shawnigan Lake Road.

The Malahat Fire Department responded with support from the Mill Bay Fire Department and fire fighters from the BC Wildfire Service.

The BC Wildfire Service reports the fires are now under control.

DriveBC reports the highway reopened to single-lane alternating traffic around 9pm.

There is no word on what sparked the fires.

UPDATED at 9:15 pm  Highway-1 between Duncan and Victoria was closed this evening in the area of the Malahat Summit as fire fighters dealt with four separate fires along the route.

A seven-kilometre section of the highway was shut down from Whittaker Road and Mill Bay Road to 3 kilometres south of the Malahat summit at around 7 pm as fire fighters rushed to the scene.

DriveBC reports the highway has now been reopened to single-lane alternating traffic.

The Malahat Fire Department says there were four fires and they responded with support from the Mill Bay Fire Department and fire fighters from the BC Wildfire Service.

A spokesperson with Malahat Fire says it appears the fires are now under control.

There is no word on what sparked the fires.

A wildfire has closed Highway-1 in the area of the Malahat Summit this evening.

A seven-kilometre section of the highway was shut down from Whittaker Road and Mill Bay Road to 3 kilometres south of the Malahat summit at around 7 pm as fire fighters rushed to the scene.

Traffic is being detoured via Shawnigan Lake Road.

Witnesses report there were flames in as many as three places, but it is uncertain what sparked the blaze.

Mike Patterson
Mike Patterson
Mike is an experience broadcast news journalist with more than four decades of experience. As a reporter he has covered a wide range of stories, from city councils to Royal visits. Mike has also been a news presenter on radio in the Okanagan, Vancouver, and several communities on Vancouver Island. He enjoys skiing at Mt. Washington and Blackcomb, and photography.

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