Second incident management team deployed to combat wildfires in Prince George Fire Centre

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – During a press briefing on the wildfire situation in the northeast, Minister of Emergency Preparedness Bowinn Ma announced the mobilization of a second incident management team to combat fires with the Prince George Fire Centre.

“This secondary incident management team has been deployed to ensure the proper resources are being utilized to suppress fires in the more remote regions of the province,” Ma said. 

For the Parker Lake and Patry Creek wildfires near Fort Nelson, BC Wildfire Service has deployed 131 firefighters, 19 aircraft and water air tankers, 25 pieces of heavy equipment, and 61 structure protection personnel and equipment. 

Structural protection crews are also travelling to protect structures threatened by the Doig River wildfire, which is now “being held.”

According to the BC Wildfire Service, as of May 17th, the Parker Lake wildfire was 12,329 hectares in size, the Patry Creek wildfire was 71,818 hectares, and the Doig Creek wildfire was 650 hectares.

Cliff Chapman, director of BC Wildfire Service, explained that while the region has recently experienced some precipitation, it is not enough to contend with the wildfires across the province. 

“We are experiencing an extreme drought that we haven’t seen in a long time, if ever, in British Columbia, and because of that, we are seeing extreme fire behaviour in and around some of the fires that are in the Prince George Fire Centre,” Chapman said. 

BCWS said they are not expecting rain in the immediate future, but Environment Canada forecasts showers in Fort Nelson between May 17th and May 21st. 

Chapman explained that firefighters will be using recent precipitation to their advantage for the next two days.

“It wouldn’t be right to try to forecast when we will be able to recommend lifting the [evacuation] order on Fort Nelson. Obviously, we are continuing to operate significantly in and around the community, and when it is safe, we will make that recommendation in partnership with the regional district,” Chapman said. 

On May 16th, the City of Fort St. John announced a service for evacuees to register and renew Emergency Support Services (ESS) remotely.

Fort St. John ESS has extended its services for current evacuees until May 21st. 

ESS Reception Centres in Fort St. John and Dawson Creek will be open over the long weekend from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 18th and 19th and closed on May 20th.

“Commercial accommodations in Fort St. John are limited, and the ESS team is working hard to meet the needs of evacuees,” Ma said. 

Ma specifically mentioned the Sunset Lodge, just 45 minutes from Fort St. John, which still has more than 300 rooms available for evacuees, and recommended that evacuees in need of accommodations contact the business. 

“We do have EMCR and ESS staff on the ground. They are able to register you and put you up right away,” Ma said. 

The City of Fort St. John has been maintaining a list of activities and special events for evacuees in the region on their Facebook page. 

The District of Taylor is also planning to release a list on its Facebook page, which will be updated throughout the long weekend, starting at 4 p.m. May 17th.