Quesnel Fire Department now assisting with vehicle fire that closed highway south of town

The Quesnel Volunteer Fire Department is now on the scene of a vehicle fire that closed Highway 97 south of town this (Friday) morning.

It is near Melville Road about 45 kilometres south of Quesnel and is outside the fire protection area.

RCMP were called at around 6-30 this morning and Fire Chief Ron Richert says they were called by Emcon Road Maintenance at around noon.

“We were able to obtain a provincial task number which enables us to release fire trucks and fire fighters from the City of Quesnel to help manage that situation with the authorization of our City Manager.”

Richert says the provincial task number gives them coverage for liability.

He says the semi truck’s trailer is full of compressed paper that is now fully involved.

“Our provincial task number is to prevent the fire from spreading into the grass or a wooded area.”

Richert says their reserve fire engine and a water tender are now on scene with four fire fighters.

The Highway is currently down to single lane traffic.

– Files from George Henderson, My Cariboo Now