Peace River Regional District issues Evacuation Order and new Evacuation Alert

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – The Peace River Regional District has issued an evacuation order for residents and businesses near the Buckinghorse River Fire and a new evacuation alert.

The district is advising Electoral Area ‘B’ residents in the following area to leave their homes immediately.

The PRRD says you must leave the area immediately. Evacuees, please call the Peace River Regional District EOC at 250-784-3200 or 1-800-670-7773.

The new evacuation alert has been issued for Peace River Regional District Electoral Area ‘B’ for the following areas:
– South of the Buckinghorse River including 11km on the eastern side and 5km on the western side of Highway 97N.
– North of the Sikanni Chief River including 11km on the eastern side and 5km on the western side of Highway 97N.
– Including Sikanni Chief Road and PDR 156 Road.

This is the time to get prepared to leave your home on short notice. Get your grab-and-go bags ready (which should include several days of clothing, toiletries, and medications), your emergency plan, copies of important documents, and important mementos.

For more information on this alert, go to www.prrd.bc.ca.

Highway 97 is closed once again from km 280 to km 349 due to the 4,800-hectare fire near Buckinghorse River.

“The fire is very unpredictable and moving quite fast,” says the Prince George Fire Centre.

Smoke from nearby wildfires will be rolling into Fort St. John over the next few days.

According to FireSmoke Canada, the smoke started moving in Wednesday morning from a fire near Beatton River. The smoke from the fire near Buckinghorse River will also start moving towards the Energetic City, combining smoke from both wildfires.

The BC Wildfire Service says the uncontrolled fire near Buckinghorse continues to move. This is due to wind speeds over the last few days, which are supposed to reach between 20 to 40 km/h Wednesday afternoon.

Public Services and Procurement Canada, the federal agency that maintains the highway past Wonowon, says to expect delays at km 355 to 359 as well.