Telegraph Creek Airport

The airport is not permanently closed. The temporary operational halt in August 2018 was due to the devastating Alkali Lake/Telegraph Creek wildfires. The airport itself was a critical staging area for firefighting aircraft (water bombers, helicopters) and was used to evacuate residents from the community. Public access was restricted for safety and to prioritize emergency operations.

The site is an active, registered public aerodrome named Telegraph Creek (Stikine River) Airport (ICAO: CBM5). It is owned and operated by the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. It features a single gravel runway (04/22) that is approximately 5,000 feet (1,524 meters) long. The airport currently serves general aviation, charter flights, and emergency services, but does not have regularly scheduled commercial passenger service.

Telegraph Creek (Stikine River) Airport (CBM5) is a vital lifeline for the remote community of Telegraph Creek and the surrounding Tahltan First Nation territory. Historically, the region is named for the failed Collins Overland Telegraph line project of the 1860s. When active, the airport's primary operations have always been to provide essential services, including:
- Medical evacuations (medevac).
- Transportation of mail, food, and critical supplies.
- Charter passenger flights connecting residents to larger centers like Dease Lake and Smithers.
- A base for government services, mineral exploration, and tourism (river tours, hunting).
- During the 2018 wildfires, it proved its immense strategic value as the central hub for the emergency response that saved the community from complete destruction.

Not applicable, as the airport is open and fully operational. The B.C. government continues to maintain the airport as part of its remote and rural transportation network, ensuring its long-term viability for the community it serves. There are no known plans for its closure.