Fort St. John and Dawson Creek offer support to Fort Nelson wildfire evacuees

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – As forest fire evacuations continue in the Fort Nelson region, Fort St. John and Dawson Creek residents and governments continue to offer support and resources.

The City of Fort St. John has continued to provide updates on activities available for evacuees in the next several days. 

Residents have also been posting in several community groups, offering their services and useful information for evacuees, such as laundry facilities and support for animal owners. 

The city also maintains a list of participating businesses and services for evacuees on social media, which is updated regularly as new services are added.

Some examples include Canadian Grind, which is offering free drip coffee and hot chocolate, Cornerstone Yoga Collective, offering free yoga practice and mats, Lucas’s Pitstop, who are providing free meals and sweets; and the North Peace Leisure Pool, offering free swimming for evacuees all day.

Other participating local businesses include Bone & Biscuit, offering evacuees 15 per cent off their purchases, and Amazing Escapes offering their escape rooms at 50 per cent off.

In a virtual media update, Councilor Jim Lequiere and Ryan Harvey, the City of Fort St. John’s communications manager, updated the public on the city’s services and capabilities for evacuees. 

As of May 13, more than 1,000 evacuees had registered with Fort St. John Emergency Reception Centre, and Lequiere said the last application is expected to be completed by 9 p.m. on May 13. 

“There is still some space limited in Fort St. John, we do request that if anyone is still looking to evacuate that they go further than Fort St. John,” Harvey said. 

The Historical Red Barn in Charlie Lake has also offered to use its parking lot for RV parking. Evacuees interested in this are encouraged to call 250-262 1899 and ask for Mike. 

Kenny Murrell, a Fort St. John resident, has offered to let evacuees needing temporary accommodations use his 26-acre field. 

The field is available for evacuees willing to tent, and Murrell also extends the invitation to those evacuating with horses. 

“I’ve got some temporary fence line and stuff we can put up for other people’s horses,” Murrell said. 

Murrell’s 26-acre property is near the North Peace Regional Airport, right on the road and is recognisable by a billboard in the field near the roadside. 

Murrell told Energeticcity.ca he would bring out portable lavatories, a tanker of fresh water and portable lighting when evacuees begin to arrive. Evacuees are encouraged to travel to Murrell’s property or call him at 250-224-9443. 

As of publication time on May 13,  more than 400 evacuees had registered with the Emergency Reception Centre and are sheltering in Dawson Creek.

“At the end of the day, material things can be replaced, lives can’t, so their safety is the number one [priority],” Darcy Dober, mayor of Dawson Creek, said.

Dawson Creek Council passed a vote to offer free swimming to evacuees at the Kenn Borek Aquatic Centre as a fun activity while they wait for updates. 

“We’re thinking about everybody, and we are here to support and help our neighbours,” Dober said. 

Residents of Dawson Creek who want to donate goods or offer services to evacuees are encouraged to contact the Emergency Reception Centre.