The Coquihalla Highway remains closed Monday morning south of Merritt because of the July Mountain wildfire.

The fire has threatened the highway since it broke out, on July 13, and grew significantly on the weekend with gusting winds and hot and dry weather, before it forced the highway to be shut down on Sunday afternoon.

DriveBC is expecting to give an update on the status of the highway later this morning.

Meanwhile, from a separate fire, the entire City of Merritt is on evacuation alert, as a result of the Lytton Creek wildfire which also grew substantially over the weekend. The fire was an estimated 23 kilometres northwest of city limits as of Sunday night.

The Lytton Creek fire also forced more than 700 properties within the Thompson-Nicola Regional District to be evacuated last night, in the Lower Nicola area. The Coldwater Indian Band, Lower Nicola Indian Band and Shackan Indian Band also have new orders in place.

While the Coquihalla is shut down between Hope and Merritt, there are travel advisories on the other two highways connecting Hope to the Interior because of wildfires.

Drivers are warned about travelling the Trans-Canada Highway between Lytton and Spences Bridge because of the Lytton Creek blaze, and the Hope-Princeton Highway also has a travel advisory between Manning Park Resort and Princeton, due to the Garrison Creek Lake.

Coquihalla Hwy SB, just leaving Merritt, top of Larson Hill. #bcwildfires
🎥: Justin Mallard pic.twitter.com/FrmOe1abjC

— Kyle Conway 康有为 (@KC_Lumberguy) August 16, 2021