Community Update: Westside Road Remains Closed

Update as of 10:30am, Aug. 16, 2026

Westside Road remains closed between Komasket Road and Simla Road.

The OKIB Emergency Operations Centre is actively working toward reopening the road and allowing re-entry to the remaining areas of Westside. However, there is still important work that must be completed before that can safely happen.

While the immediate wildfire threat has decreased, several areas along Westside Road remain unsafe. Crews continue to assess and address hazards, including danger trees, damaged infrastructure, unstable areas and other impacts from the fire.

Emergency personnel, utility crews and heavy equipment are also continuing to work along the road and need space to complete that work safely without public traffic moving through active work areas.

In any wildfire emergency, the absence of active flames does not mean an area is immediately safe to reopen. Before public access can resume, crews need to assess the road and surrounding areas, identify and mitigate hazards, maintain emergency access and confirm that conditions are safe for regular traffic.

Westside Road remains accessible to emergency personnel, including RCMP, BC Emergency Health Services (Ambulance) and the OKIB Fire Department. The closure to public traffic does not prevent emergency responders from accessing the area when needed.

We recognize that the closure is creating a significant inconvenience, particularly for people whose properties south of the reserve are normally accessed through Westside Road and OKIB. We understand the frustration of being unable to use your regular route, especially as other areas begin returning to normal.

We are asking for continued patience while crews complete this work. OKIB EOC is working to reopen Westside Road as soon as it is safe to do so. Opening the road before the necessary safety work is complete would put residents, travellers and the crews working in the area at unnecessary risk.

Please do not attempt to enter the closed area or bypass road closures.

As a reminder, by order of a Band Council Resolution (BCR), the OKIB Band Range is closed to all unauthorized persons until further notice. Only those authorized by OKIB, or emergency response personnel carrying out their duties, are permitted to enter.

Continue to monitor official OKIB channels for confirmed information about Westside Road and re-entry. Updates will be provided as soon as conditions allow access to change.