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The latest:
- The Parker Lake wildfire near Fort Nelson has grown in size to nearly 25 square kilometres on Sunday.
- Despite reduced fire behaviour on Saturday, officials are warning that winds are likely to push the fire toward Fort Nelson on Sunday.
- Residents who have not yet evacuated have been told there will be no help available after noon Sunday.
- Those who cannot drive are urged to call 250-775-0933 for support. For emergencies, dial 911.
- How to find the full list of wildfires, highway closures and evacuation orders and alerts.
Officials are saying the risks posed by a wildfire near Fort Nelson, B.C., are likely to escalate on Sunday as winds push the blaze toward the community.
The Parker Lake wildfire, which officials say was sparked by a downed tree on Friday evening, has resulted in an evacuation order being issued for the entire community of around 3,400 people, as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation in B.C.’s northeast.
According to the B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS), the fire grew from 17 square kilometres in size on Saturday to around 25 square kilometres on Sunday morning, and remains around 3.5 kilometres west of the community.
While the BCWS says fire activity was reduced on Saturday, officials are warning that an incoming weather system on Sunday is likely to push the blaze in the community’s direction.
The First Nation has issued an expanded evacuation order covering one home and “many cultural sites” on Sunday.
The Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM) urged anyone still in Fort Nelson to leave, and warned its emergency operations centre would be relocating south of town, further limiting its ability to communicate with residents.
“The potential risks posed by the wildfires in and around Fort Nelson have escalated to a greater level, and the incoming weather system is bringing strong winds from the west which has the real potential to significantly increase the size of the fires over the next 48 hours,” the Saturday notice warns.
“At this time, all residents who are currently remaining within the community are strongly urged to reconsider and evacuate immediately. You are our friends, family and neighbours. Please stay safe.”
The CBC’s Yvette Brend spoke to evacuees in Fort St. John, after they drove six hours in smoky conditions to escape the raging wildfires in northeastern B.C.
The final buses out of the community, it said, would be leaving from the Woodlands Inn at noon local time on Sunday, at which point no further help would be available.
NRRM Mayor Rob Fraser had told CBC News on Saturday that the evacuation order had gone well, and most people had left, but the exact number of people staying behind was not provided.
In a joint statement on Saturday, NRRM and Fort Nelson First Nation said people staying behind despite the evacuation orders should be aware that “emergency medical services are not available, nor are groceries or other amenities.”
“Utilities may become impacted to support fire response efforts,” the statement said. “Communication networks are precarious, which could impact the ability to reach residents to advise of changing conditions.”
Fort Nelson is located near B.C.’s border with Yukon, about 1,600 kilometres northeast of Vancouver and 500 kilometres north of Prince George.
A rapidly-advancing wildfire has forced residents of the entire community of Fort Nelson and Fort Nelson First Nation to evacuate. Smoke from the flames could be seen earlier in the day.
Evacuees told to head south
Those fleeing the fire had to drive for nearly six hours south to Fort St. John — about 380 kilometres southeast of Fort Nelson.
Kyra Croin, who was asleep with her children when the fire started, said she awoke in a panic around 4 p.m. local time. She said it took hours to simply exit Fort Nelson.
“The lineup was horrendous … it was tail lights in front of you for miles,” she said from a reception centre in Fort St. John. “This is the first time in the 14 years I’ve lived in Fort Nelson that we’ve had to be evacuated.”
Officials are urging anyone with the means to travel further to go another 440 kilometres south to Prince George, B.C., where a reception centre has been opened.
Those needing transportation are advised to call 250-775-0933, and the district says evacuees should register on the Evacuee Registration and Assistance website at ess.gov.bc.ca.
Increased fire activity forecasted
The B.C. Wildfire Service says reduced wind speeds and cooler temperatures on Saturday helped crews, but temperatures are expected to remain above seasonal normals on Sunday.
B.C. is experiencing a record-low snowpack and drought has plagued much of the province, especially in the parched northeast, for months. Data from the B.C. River Forecast Centre predicts a long, dry fire season.
“With easterly winds this morning, the backend of the fire on the northwest flank will receive clear air,” a BCWS update on Sunday reads. “Increased fire activity is expected as available fuel remains dry and receptive.”
While telecom services were temporarily down due to the blaze, regional telecom providers say service is returning in areas of northern B.C.
Emergency crews say they safely evacuated patients from the Fort Nelson General Hospital, which remains closed as of Sunday.
The view from one of our flight crews as they worked to evacuate patients from Fort Nelson last night. <a href=”https://t.co/JrR8eCcJ4r”>pic.twitter.com/JrR8eCcJ4r</a>
—@BC_EHS