Brush fire closes Sea-to-Sky Hwy in both directions near Horseshoe Bay

The Sea-to-Sky Highway has been shut down in both directions due to a brush fire near Horseshoe Bay, located about 25 kilometres northwest of Vancouver.

The B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) says the fire is southwest of Whyte Lake, approximately half a kilometre from the ferry terminal. 

The fire was three hectares in size as of 2:30 p.m., according to the service. The fire danger rating in the area is listed as moderate, meaning forest fuels are drying, and there's an increased risk of new fires.

BCWS says the fire is currently out of control, and its cause is under investigation. It was first reported around 12:52 p.m.

The highway remains closed as of 10 p.m. PT.

WATCH | Plane attacks brush fire near Horseshoe Bay:

Jade Richardson, a fire information officer with the Coastal Fire Centre, said that the BCWS was assisting the West Vancouver Fire Department in the firefighting efforts.

"B.C. Wildfire Service is responding with two initial attack crews, two helicopters and two response officers," she told CBC News around 4 p.m. "We also responded with an air tanker team earlier today."

Rod Gildersleeve was heading to Squamish on Monday before the closure of the highway in both directions made him change his plans.

"I can think of three or four fires in this area generated by people in the last year,"  he told CBC News.

Hannah Mather, a server at Troll's Restaurant at Horseshoe Bay, said that numerous customers had come in worried about the fire, with the closure impacting businesses near the ferry terminal.

"It seems like traffic's been stopped both ways," she said around 4 p.m. "We're kind of emptying out in there."

While the exact cause of the fire is unknown at this point, Richardson said it was important for residents to be aware of the fire risks heading into the Canada Day long weekend.