Hazmat crews responding to truck fire south of Merritt, B.C.

MERRITT, B.C. – A truck fire on a major highway in British Columbia’s Interior is snarling traffic and prompting concerns about air quality.

The ministry of transportation says in a release that Highway 5 is closed between Hope and Merritt after a fire started in a semi-trailer truck carrying dangerous goods early Monday morning.

It says a hazardous materials team is on site to contain the situation, but no information has been released about what dangerous goods the truck was carrying.

It’s unclear whether anyone was injured in the fire.

Interior Health says the blaze produced smoke that could create health problems and anyone in the area who smells or tastes anything unusual in the air should go inside, close the windows and doors and turn off any air conditioning units.

DriveBC says Highway 5, also known as the Coquihalla Highway, could be closed until early Tuesday morning.

The ministry says Victoria Day is traditionally one of the road’s busiest days of the year, with as many as 25,000 vehicles travelling the highway.