East Barriere Lake

The closure was an administrative and economic decision by its operator, the British Columbia Ministry of Forests (now part of the BC Wildfire Service). Small, remote airstrips like this are expensive to maintain and inspect. The closure was likely part of a strategic shift to consolidate air operations at larger, better-equipped regional airports and an increased reliance on helicopters for wildfire suppression and forestry support. There is no evidence it was closed due to a specific accident, environmental concern, or military conversion.

The site is abandoned and has been reclaimed by nature. Satellite imagery confirms the former runway is completely overgrown with shrubs and young trees, rendering it unusable for any aviation purposes. The faint outline of the strip is still visible from the air, but the land is effectively reverting to forest. There is no infrastructure remaining and no indication of any other use for the site.

The airport, officially known as Barriere Lake (East) (CAB2), was a government-use airstrip. Its primary purpose was to support BC Ministry of Forests operations in the remote North Thompson region. It served as a forward operating base for the BC Wildfire Service, allowing for the rapid deployment of fire crews, equipment, and supplies via fixed-wing aircraft. It also supported other forestry activities such as aerial surveys and personnel transport. The airport featured a single 2,000-foot by 75-foot gravel and turf runway (13/31) and was restricted to 'Forest Service use only' with prior permission required.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the airport. Given that it was a specialized government facility that was intentionally decommissioned due to changes in operational strategy, it is extremely unlikely to be restored. The cost of clearing the land, rebuilding the runway, and maintaining it for a purpose that no longer exists makes its reopening economically and logistically unfeasible.