Wildfires in British Columbia are currently affecting major rail and highway corridors between Vancouver and inland Canada. These disruptions may result in delays to import and export shipments moving through the Port of Vancouver and surrounding intermodal terminals.
Current Situation
A wildfire near Boston Bar, British Columbia, located between Vancouver and Kamloops, has made the rail corridor temporarily impassable. Rail crews have been safely evacuated, and both CN and CPKC tracks are currently shut down in the affected area. Eastbound and westbound train movements are being staged, and no estimated reopening time was available in the referenced updates.
Highway transportation is also affected:
- Highway 1 is closed in both directions between Hells Gate and Boston Bar.
- Highway 3 is closed in both directions between Sunshine Valley and Manning Park Lodge.
- Highway 5 — the Coquihalla Highway — remains open and may be used as an alternate route.
Potential Logistics Impacts
The disruption may affect:
- Rail movements to and from British Columbia ports
- Import containers moving inland from Vancouver
- Export cargo moving toward Vancouver terminals
- Empty-container availability and allocation
- Railcar supply across east-west networks
- Reefer Powerpack export capacity
- Trucking transit times and inland delivery schedules
According to the rail network update, export loads may be held until the tracks become passable, and some CN western terminals have paused loading toward British Columbia ports. Empty-equipment allocation may also be reviewed closer to terminal ingate dates.
Highway shipments moving to or from Vancouver and inland destinations normally served through Highways 1 and 3 may require detours and experience longer transit times.
What Falcon Is Doing
Falcon International is actively monitoring updates from rail carriers, ocean carriers, trucking partners and terminal operators.
Our team is:
- Reviewing affected shipments individually
- Monitoring rail and highway reopening developments
- Assessing alternate routing and trucking options where practical
- Communicating anticipated delays to affected clients
- Coordinating with carriers to minimize additional disruption
Recommendations for Clients
Clients with time-sensitive cargo moving through Western Canada should allow additional transit time and consider the possibility of schedule changes, equipment constraints or terminal delays.
Please contact your Falcon representative before making delivery, production or distribution commitments based on existing arrival schedules.
We Are Here to Support You
Safety remains the priority for all parties operating in the affected region. Falcon International will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as conditions evolve.
For assistance with a specific shipment, please contact your Falcon International representative.