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UPDATE: Mechanical error caused Port Coquitlam vehicle fire, no injuries reported

Highway 7B has since reopened with congestion easing off after several lanes were blocked for hours this morning (Nov. 30).
Kyle Balzer
Kyle Balzer

3:40 p.m.

No one was injured from a morning vehicle fire that closed a Port Coquitlam highway earlier today (Nov. 30).

RCMP confirm to the Tri-City News a mechanical error caused an apparent dump truck to go ablaze along the Mary Hill Bypass before 9:30 a.m.

The stretch has since reopened after it resulted in several hours of congestion between Pitt River Road and Broadway Street.

Port Coquitlam Fire department extinguished the flames and the vehicle was removed off the road as quickly as possible.

11:40 a.m.

Traffic is expected to remain congested on the Mary Hill Bypass, which is now fully open after an earlier vehicle blaze blocked several lanes.

The Port Coquitlam Fire Department doused the flames coming out of the engine of an apparent dump truck before 9:30 a.m. between Pitt River Road and Broadway Street, but it's unclear if anyone was injured.

The vehicle was heading eastbound when the incident took place, closing the left and centre lanes.

Coquitlam RCMP closed the left westbound lane for first responders to get through.

Drive BC is advising commuters to consider another route for the time being until the stretch of Highway 7B settles down.

9:20 a.m.

A dump truck appears to have caught ablaze in Port Coquitlam this morning (Nov. 30).

In a photo by Drive BC via a traffic camera before 9:30 a.m., the vehicle has closed several lanes of the Mary Hill Bypass (Highway 7B) between Pitt River Road and Broadway Street.

The left and centre eastbound lanes, as well as the left westbound lane, are currently blocked.

Coquitlam RCMP and Port Coquitlam fire crews are on the scene as of this publication.

It's unclear if anyone is injured from the fire.

Commuters and residents are encouraged to find alternate routes with heavy congestion and long delays expected.