Highway 97 between Peachland and Summerland subject to intermittent closures

A wildfire burning in B.C.'s Okanagan Valleyhas prompted intermittent closures of Highway 97 and heavy delays between Peachlandand Summerland.

The highway was closed on Wednesday after the flames reached the road. It reopenedto one lane of traffic between Peachland and Summerland in both directions on Thursday afternoon, butwas closed again around 6 p.m. PT.

As of 8 p.m., the highway has reopenedin both directions between Peachlandand Summerland, operating with single lane alternating trafficwith a police escort.

• Get updates on highway closures from DriveBC

An alternative route is along Highway 97C, down Highway 5A and across Highway 3.

The Mount Eneas fire, which is burning between Peachland and Summerland, nearly doubled in size overnight and now covers 500 hectares.On Wednesday, it forced the evacuation of dozens of properties.