Detour around wildfire-affected Hwy 4 on Vancouver Island re-opens, as authorities offer escorted convoys

People needing to drive between Port Alberni, B.C., and western Vancouver Island are being asked to only travel for essential reasons, according to the province.

On Saturday, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure warned motorists essential food and fuel must take priority on a logging road detour that avoids wildfire-shuttered Highway 4. 

That detour itself was shuttered for eight hours Friday, but re-opened even though authorities warned "fire hazard is very high for the entire detour route."

The ministry is also encouraging vehicles to travel in escorted convoys with a pilot vehicle, two eastbound and two westbound daily.

The route was re-opened late Friday evening after being closed from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. so that crews could extricate a vehicle that rolled into a lake along the route, the province says.

The long, arduous detour was put in place due to the closure of Highway 4 on Tuesday afternoon because of the Cameron Bluffs wildfire burning east of Port Alberni, which has grown to about two square kilometres in size.

Port Alberni and the surrounding area is home to almost 26,000 people, according to the 2021 census, while Tofino and Ucluelet have around a combined 4,500 residents — not counting the many visitors to the popular west coast destinations. 

Several airlines that operate short-haul flights between Port Alberni and other South Coast destinations say they've added extra flights to help people move in and out of the region.

The province announced the Highway 4 detour on Wednesday, but cautioned that it should only used for essential travel. The route extends travel time by hours and features rough roads and some single-lane bridges. There is no cellphone service along the way.

Ayden Jager, who recently took the detour route after spending the week in Port Alberni, said there is evidence the region is seeing the effects of the highway closure, which is now in its fourth day.

"I think people are kind of panic-buying because the main route is closed off. I saw some gas stations were empty and resources were running low," he said.

Jason Currie of Daly's Auto Shop in Youbou says there has been a significant increase in traffic along the road past his business, which is on the detour route.

"You get to see a lot of people you've never met before," he said. "Convoy after convoy of new vehicles coming through the road and they look so tired and hot and hungry when they get here. It's fascinating and kind of troubling."

Long waits expected

The province said in a release on Thursday evening that the crews will be removing a vehicle that rolled into Francis Lake, but did not give any details about the incident.

B.C. Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) said at around 11:15 a.m. PT on Wednesday it received a report of a motor vehicle incident in the Francis Lake area and dispatched one ambulance.

WATCH | Vancouver Island fire cuts off major highway: 

B.C. wildfires close highway, empty communities

1 year ago

Duration 1:58

There is a race in B.C. to protect many communities and connect others as wildfires spread. Multiple towns on the mainland have been evacuated while a logging road on Vancouver Island is being used for essential transportation after a fire cut off a major highway.

BCEHS said it turns out the ambulance was not needed at the scene, and paramedics did not care for or transport any patients to hospital.

The province warned that travellers who have to take the detour should be prepared, travel in daylight, and have a full tank of gas and extra supplies including food and water.