Pocket Knife Creek wildfire alert issued as evacuation orders rescinded

FORT ST. JOHN — An evacuation alert is overriding the three evacuation orders issued due to the Pocket Knife Creek wildfire. 

The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) has issued its fourth alert because of the Pocket Knife Creek fire, which has now burned 151,844 hectares near Redfern-Keily Provincial Park. 

People living in these areas do not have to leave immediately, but should be ready to leave with little notice:

• From kilometre marker 325 on Highway 97 north
• Following Highway 97 north, for a buffer ranging between 3.5km to 6.5km along Highway 97 north, on east and west sides
• South to kilometre 275 on Highway 97 north
• Northwest for 6km
• North-northwest for 5km
• West for 0.4km
• Southwest for 7.8km
• West for 42.5km
• South for 6.15km
• East for 11.8km
• South for 18.8km
• Southeast for 57.5km to Highway 97 north
• Continuing southeast 9km
• Northwest for 14.8km
• Southeast for 13km to the kilometre 275 on Highway 97 north

The alert does not affect First Nations communities on reserve lands or municipalities.

It does however rescind evacuation orders one, two and three. 

People impacted by this alert are urged to pack necessary supplies, such as three days of food, medication, anything pets need, government-issued ID, eyeglasses, cell phones and chargers, and valuable papers such as insurance, passports, birth certificates and banking and mortgage information.

They are also told to find all family members and designate a meeting place should an evacuation order be issued. 

The wildfire surrounds a portion of the Alaska Highway (Highway 97) for 106.1km between Sikanni Chief Road and Prophet River Sub Road, according to DriveBC.

The road is currently open, but this may change quickly, so drivers are urged to check DriveBC before they travel. 

For more details on all the evacuation orders and alerts, visit the PRRD’s website.