UPDATE: A state of Emergency was declared by Fort Nelson First Nation due to the Kahntah Reserve evacuation.

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A map of the evacuated area. (Fort Nelson First Nation)

Update: (6:37, Monday July 9th): Fort Nelson First Nation has issued a state of emergency due to the wildfire. Click here for the full details.

FORT NELSON, B.C. — Fort Nelson First Nation (FNFN) has issued an Evacuation Order for IR#3 Kahntah Reserve due to wildfires.

The order was issued at 10:47 a.m. According to the BC Wildfire Service, the nearest wildfire to the evacuated area currently sits at five hectares in size and was discovered on Monday, July 8th.

The evacuated area is located:

112 kilometres southeast of IR#2 FNFN
109 kilometres northeast of Prophet River
48 kilometres northeast of Fontas Reserve
116 kilometres southeast of Fort Nelson

All people within the area are ordered to evacuate along the Fontas River via boat. Evacuees are urged to “follow all road directions from authorities.”

“Members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and other agencies will be expediting evacuation of these areas on behalf of the Fort Nelson First Nation if required,” the order reads.

Evacuees are also urged to contact the FNFN Emergency Operations Centre at 250-775-0716 for more information regarding the evacuation.

DriveBC ordered Highway 77 north of Fort Nelson to the Northwest Territories border closed at 7:00 p.m. Monday evening due to wildfire activity. Check here for updates.

Energeticcity.ca will update this story with new information as it becomes available.