UPDATE: Fort Nelson wildfires: Parker Lake blaze slows, Patry Creek worsens

UPDATE: The Parker Lake wildfire has grown to 12,741 hectares, and the Patry Creek wildfire has grown to 71,818  hectares.

FORT NELSON, B.C. — Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM) Mayor Rob Fraser says the wildfire situation in Fort Nelson is beginning to look positive.

The town has been evacuated since last Friday due to a series of wildfires, including one near Parker Lake to the west and another near Patry Creek to the north.

The Parker Lake fire has been inching towards the town in the days since it ignited, but Fraser says current weather conditions are helping the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) battle the blaze back.

“When I was there [Wednesday] morning, it was fairly calm winds, we had overcast, I heard that rain was in the forecast, which is good,” Fraser said. “The fire was looking pretty positive this morning.”

In a video update posted late Tuesday night, BCWS Fire Behaviour Specialist Ben Boghean echoed similar sentiments.

“Reduced winds have resulted in favourable firefighting conditions, a reduction in fire behaviour, and minimal fire growth towards the community,” Boghean said.

However, he says the opposite is true of the Patry Creek blaze.

“The Patry Creek wildfire was impacted by forecasted northwesterly winds on May 12th, which created significant growth and extreme fire behaviour on the 12th and into the morning on May 13th,” Boghean said.

“This aggressive rate of spread and fire growth now places the Patry Creek wildfire 25 kilometres north of Fort Nelson.”

Boghean says the fire didn’t pose an immediate threat to Fort Nelson as of Tuesday night, but that could change if those strong winds continue.

The Patry Creek wildfire grew from 46,469 hectares to 71,818  hectares on Wednesday. It has been upgraded to a “wildfire of note” by BCWS, meaning it is “highly visible or poses a potential threat to public safety.”

Meanwhile, the Parker Lake wildfire expanded from 8,433 hectares in size to 12,741 hectares on Wednesday.

Some residents have taken to social media with videos showing structures outside Fort Nelson, along the Old Alaska Highway, that had been destroyed by fire.

When asked about structure damage, Fraser said he couldn’t confirm or deny anything.

“Our firefighters have been focused on fighting that fire and getting ready for it in case it comes to the community, so we haven’t done that rapid damage assessment yet.” 

“Nobody’s given me any reports with respect to any structural loss.”

Because of the wildfire, Highway 77 is completely closed. Highway 97 closed north of Fort Nelson last week, and as of right now, it is closed between Testa River Regional Park and Sikanni Chief, according to DriveBC.

Mayor Fraser, Fort Nelson First Nation Chief Sharleen Gale and representatives from BC Wildfire Service, Emergency Management and Climate Readiness and the Fort Nelson Emergency Operations Centre will be providing an update on the situation at a public meeting at the North Peace Arena in Fort St. John on Wednesday, May 15th at 3:30 p.m.