Blueberry River First Nation under an evacuation order

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – The Blueberry River First Nation has issued an evacuation order due to the Stoddart Creek fire.

The order was issued late Sunday, and members of the First Nation should head to the North Peace Arena in Fort St. John. From there, emergency support services will provide support to the evacuees.

The Blueberry River First Nation joins the Peace River Regional District in issuing an evacuation order. The PRRD also issued an evacuation alert due to the fire.

The Stoddart Creek fire started Saturday and grew to over 3,000 hectares. The fire started near Mile 70 of the Alaska Highway and grew moved closer to Blueberry River First Nation on Sunday.

The B.C. Wildfire service will secure structures in the community and set up a sprinkler system.

The First Nation is also asking anyone in the community to remove debris from any homes. Debris is defined as lawn chairs, tables, tents etc. Anything that can ignite should embers start travelling into the community.

On Sunday, the B.C. Wildfire Service had 31 firefighters and a heavy equipment task force working on the north and south flanks of the fire to establish control lines.

Crews focused on holding these two flanks and will be supported by multiple helicopters throughout the day to do so.
With unseasonably hot and dry conditions, fire activity and behaviour are anticipated to maintain moderate rates of spread, vigorous ground fires and intermittent crowning into foliage.

Crews focused on strengthening containment in areas of the fire that may be challenged by the expected wind shift forecast for Monday into Tuesday.