Mayor Rob Fraser optimistic amidst challenges presented while firefighters continue battling Fort Nelson wildfires

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – The mayor of the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality joined the May 17th broadcast of This Week in the Peace on Moose FM, sharing a mostly positive update on the wildfire battles in the Fort Nelson region. 

“We’ve got a bunch of balls juggling in the air, and we are doing everything we can. We’ve got some great people here, we’ve got experience, and those people that have experience have other people who have more experience that they can call on,” said Mayor Rob Fraser.

In a statement on May 16th, BC Hydro detailed infrastructure damage in the Fort Nelson area, including damaged transmission lines, burned poles and steps taken to temporarily halt gas shipments to the region’s power plant. 

Fraser explained that the power plant requires a minimum load of electricity to work efficiently, which is another challenge for the evacuated community. 

“We’re doing what we can to ensure that we are using electricity in the community to ensure that the draw is sufficient for that plant to continue running,” Fraser said. 

Fraser is also confident that, upon residents’ return, the community will have consistent and reliable utilities despite infrastructure damage.

BC Wildfire Service posted a video update from the Incident Management Team on May 16th. Since May 9th, the team has been managing all the fires in the Fort Nelson region, with a special focus on the Parker Lake and Patry Creek wildfires.

The Parker Lake wildfire sits at 12,329 hectares, and the Patry Creek wildfire is 71,818 hectares in size. 

The team has established a command post and is also establishing a fire camp at the Fort Nelson Airport.

“All our resources are currently engaged on the [fires], which is a combination of heavy equipment, ground crews, aviation resources, as well as the local fire department, and fire department resources from around the province,” Jeff Walsh, the team’s Incident Commander, said.

Fire behaviour specialist Evann Peck explained that recent rain showers have assisted in combatting the fires, and the Parker Lake wildfire remains 2.5 kilometres southwest of Fort Nelson. 

“Recent rains have created favourable conditions for the next several days, and the forecast does not call for strong wind events in our area,” Peck said. 

The rain was not enough to overcome the drought conditions in the region, noted Peck. 

Fraser explained that the two wildfires are causing complications for the region, splitting resources and the attention of firefighters and slowing the fight against the Parker Lake wildfire. 

“We have to consider the fact that if [Patry Creek wildfire] is coming closer to the community, and we bring people back, and then all of a sudden in a few day evacuate them again, it doesnt make a lot of sense,” Fraser said. 

The Incident Management Team is confident that, due to weather conditions, Patry Creek will maintain its distance from Fort Nelson, reducing the wildfire to a smouldering ground fire.