On March 10, 2026, several local fire departments worked together to stop a building fire at the Somass Motel in Port Alberni, British Columbia. The fire started in the 5200 block of River Road just after noon, requiring a large response from emergency teams across the valley.
According to the Port Alberni Fire Department, their team was assisted by the Sproat Lake Volunteer Fire Department, Beaver Creek Volunteer Fire Department, and Cherry Creek Fire Department. Firefighters successfully knocked down the main blaze by approximately 12:30 p.m. before beginning to search the building for remaining hot spots.
The incident caused a temporary closure of the westbound lane of Highway 4 at Heath Road. Local officials asked motorists to use different routes for several hours until the road was cleared and reopened later that evening.
This coordinated effort involved four different departments working to keep the fire from spreading and to manage safety on the busy transit route. No further disruptions were reported after the scene was cleared on Tuesday night.
