More evacuations ordered as wildfire closes in on Fort Nelson

Moira Wyton | Posted: May 13, 2024 2:53 PM | Last Updated: May 14

Emergency minister warns of volatile conditions for crews fighting 3 fires in region of northeastern B.C.

Image | FORT NELSON FIRE

Caption: The west flank of the Parker Lake fire near Fort Nelson, B.C., is pictured on Monday afternoon. The fire is about three kilometres from the northeast B.C. town. (B.C. Wildfire Service)

UPDATE May 14, 8 a.m. PT: Conditions improve for crews battling growing wildfire near Fort Nelson

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THE LATEST:

The Parker Lake wildfire continues to approach Fort Nelson, B.C., and was about 1.5 kilometres outside of town just before 7 a.m. MT Monday, according to the regional mayor. The B.C. Wildfire Service gave its proximity as 2.5 kilometres.
More properties in the 292 Subdivision and south to the North River Midstream gas plant were ordered to evacuate on Monday due to the Parker Lake fire and another fire 20 kilometres to the north.
B.C. Minister of Emergency Preparedness Bowinn Ma says fire crews are facing an "extremely challenging" 48 hours ahead with the possibility of "volatile" fire behaviour.
Officials warned Monday that winds are likely to continue pushing the Parker Lake fire toward Fort Nelson through the day.
The wildfire had grown in size to nearly 53 square kilometres as of Sunday evening.
Residents who did not evacuate were told there would be no help available after noon Sunday.
How to find the full list of wildfires, highway closures and evacuation orders and alerts.

Residents who remain in Fort Nelson, B.C., as a fast-moving wildfire approaches are being urged to leave as soon as possible as officials prepare for challenging conditions that could see flames shift into the community.

More evacuation orders were issued, as officials warn of "extremely challenging" fire conditions in the region.

High winds have continued to drive the Parker Lake fire last measured at 53 square kilometres toward the town and the Fort Nelson First Nation in northeastern British Columbia, according to B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS).

WATCH | Some Fort Nelson, B.C., residents have refused to leave:

Media | The National : Wildfire closing in on Fort Nelson, B.C.

Caption: The northeastern B.C. community of Fort Nelson is at the mercy of the wind as a wildfire burns three kilometres from town. Most of the town has been evacuated, while a few remain behind to protect their property.

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On Monday morning, the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM) and Fort Nelson First Nation upgraded evacuation alerts to evacuation orders for 80 more properties due to the Parker Lake fire and the Patry Creek holdover fire, about 20 kilometres north of the town.

The evacuation area now covers the entire 292 Subdivision and all properties south to the North River Midstream gas plant, the NRRM said in a social media post.

Embed | Wildfires around Fort Nelson

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And as Patry Creek and another holdover fires also burn out of control in the area, B.C. officials say wildfire fighters are facing "extremely challenging" conditions to protect communities in the region as winds are expected to pick up.

"We may begin to see volatile wildfire activity later this afternoon," Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Climate Readiness Bowinn Ma told reporters in Victoria on Monday morning.

She said the fire was 2.5 kilometres from the town.

"Let's just say we are extremely concerned," she added.

WATCH | 'Everything will be weather dependent,' says mayor of fire's impact:

Media : B.C.'s Parker Lake fire closing in on Fort Nelson, says mayor

Caption: Mayor Rob Fraser of the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality says the Parker Lake wildfire spread overnight and, depending on the weather, could continue to approach the town of Fort Nelson, B.C.

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Whether the fire reaches the town depends on the weather, said NRRM Mayor Rob Fraser, who said earlier Monday that the flames were just 1.5 kilometres from its western perimeter.

"The forecast that I hear is that we're going to get a westerly flow which could bring the fire closer to the community if it gets up to what it was like on Friday," Fraser told CBC News shortly before 7 a.m. MT Monday.

"We're trying to keep the fire away from the high fuel areas, so it's all hands on deck."

Officials repeated the same message they had communicated for the last few days: anyone still in the community should leave so wildfire crews can focus on fighting the flames, rather than conducting rescues. And, they warned, help may not be available for those who choose to stay.

Embed | Twitter

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2 holdover fires also growing rapidly

The Parker Lake fire prompted orders for the nearly 4,700 people living in Fort Nelson and the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation to evacuate on Friday, days after two other massive holdover fires to the north and east of the town reignited and prompted evacuation alerts.

The out-of-control Nogah Creek fire has grown to more than 600 square kilometres since it was reignited on May 5, BCWS said. It is burning approximately 60 kilometres east of Fort Nelson.

The Patry Creek holdover fire reignited on May 2 and has grown to 343 square kilometres as of Saturday night, according to the BCWS website. It is also considered out of control.

Both fires prompted evacuation alerts in and around Fort Nelson and the First Nation last week.

But the situation quickly deteriorated when winds blew a tree down onto a power line and sparked the Parker Lake fire just nine kilometres west of the town Friday afternoon.

Evacuees in northeast B.C. escape raging wildfire

Fraser said as of Monday morning, fewer than 100 households have not heeded evacuation orders and remain in the area.

Ma urged those who have not yet evacuated to do so immediately, saying she understood it was difficult. "We're talking about people's entire lives in some of these homes," she said.

WATCH | No help available for those who choose to stay:

Media | Wildfire may hit Fort Nelson on Monday, officials warn

Caption: Officials are urging anyone still in Fort Nelson, B.C. and the Fort Nelson First Nation to leave as an out-of-control wildfire grows closer to the community and could start burning buildings on Monday.

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'Too much to lose'

Ian Langstaff says he stayed behind because he has "too much to lose."

The mechanic has been working to clear flammable brush and debris and dampen the earth along the perimeter of his property about two kilometres north of Fort Nelson.

Image | Ian Langstaff Fort Nelson

Caption: Ian Langstaff says he has stayed behind to protect his property from the Parker Lake fire because he has 'too much to lose.' He called two other holdover fires in the area 'big monsters' and said he and his wife are hoping neither of them come to the town's doorstep as well. (Submitted by Ian Langstaff)

Langstaff says he worries the two holdover fires are drawing resources away from the Parker Lake fire at the town's doorstep and says BCWS should have done more to extinguish them over the wintertime.

"If we get a bad wind change and it brings one of them toward us, it'll obliterate us," he said.

"So we're battling this small fire right now and just hoping and praying that we don't have to battle one of them two big monsters."

'Our plan worked'

Fraser said, despite some people choosing to stay behind, 3,500 people were evacuated from the area in six hours.

Most travelled several hours to Fort St. John, where a reception centre was set up.

"When you get 3,500 people coming into a town the size of Fort St. John, it's a shocker," he said. "But they were there and they were ready for us."

Fraser said it's not often communities actually see their emergency plans in action.

"Although you don't get to exercise it very often, our plan worked."

LISTEN | Mayor explains wildfire situation in Fort Nelson:

Media | Daybreak North : Mayor provides Fort Nelson fire update

Caption: Rob Fraser says massive fire within 2.5 km of community.

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BCWS director of wildfire operations Cliff Chapman says many of the holdover fires were burning deep underground, under layers of snow, and with no heat signature over the winter.

He said they were fuelled by prolonged drought and that B.C. could follow up on how to improve dealing with holdover fires in the future.

"The answer is really in prevention," Chapman said.