PRRD seeks approval, funding for Old Fort geotechnical assessment

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) is asking the Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR) to approve and fund the scope of work for the Old Fort geotechnical assessment. 

On April 20, a landslide on Old Fort Road, which posed a “significant risk to life,” prompted the PRRD to issue an emergency alert asking people to prepare to evacuate.  

During the July 23 board meeting, the PRRD approved sending a letter to the EMCR requesting that the ministry approve and fund the scope of work for the Old Fort geotechnical assessment, amend or rescind Ministerial Order No. M214 to show the scope of work the ministry is prepared to approve and fund. 

The letter will also advise the minister that if there is no approval or funding or if the ministry is unable to amend or rescind the ministerial order, the PRRD will be unable to fulfil the order’s requirements. 

EMCR issued an order on May 21, 2026, requiring the PRRD to do a geotechnical assessment to identify risks to people and property in the first evacuation order and alert area issued due to the landslide closure on Old Fort Road. 

The report said in the letter accompanying the ministerial order the EMCR “remains prepared to fund this work.” 

The ministerial order required professional opinions on the imminent and long-term (future) risks and recommendations to ease, prevent, or reduce the risk, now and in the future, to properties and people in the Old Fort area. 

To comply with the order, the report said the PRRD engaged a qualified professional to prepare a work plan and cost estimates for the geotechnical assessment. 

This plan was divided into three phases: an opinion on the imminent risk, an opinion on the quantitative landslide risk to property and people and recommendations to reduce future landslide risk. 

The report said phase one was completed and funded by the EMCR, and that it assessed current conditions to determine whether there is a life-safety risk. 

The professional opinion presented supported the PRRD’s decision to rescind the Evacuation Alerts one and two, and supported the EMCR’s decision to discontinue Emergency Support Services. 

For phase two, EMCR, in a letter to the PRRD, the assistant deputy minister for Readiness, Response and Recovery Operations (ADM) said the EMCR is “tentatively” prepared to approve the work subject to reduced scope and scale. 

The ADM also declined to approve the recommendation phase of the proposed assessment. 

A meeting was held on June 19 between the ADM, their staff, their subject-matter expert, PRRD staff and the PRRD’s qualified professional. 

At the meeting, the PRRD staff said that the PRRD’s qualified professional’s proposal meets the ministerial order’s demands, and any change to the proposed scope of work would require an amendment or cancellation of the order.

The ADM agreed to the latter and committed to reviewing the phase one findings and making a decision on the proposed subsequent phases of work within two weeks. 

However, as of July 16, 2026, no approval or reconsideration has been received from the EMCR regarding phases two or three. 

The report said, “The order is broad in scope, and none of the completed or proposed geotechnical assessment work phases [meets] the demands of the order on their own.” 

“Without approval of the remaining phases or an amendment to the order, the PRRD is unable to fulfil the requirements of the order as it stands.” 

The report said funding for emergency response activities, including geotechnical assessment, is provided by the EMCR under conditions established by its financial standards and processes. 

The PRRD has, so far, received an EMCR funding commitment for phase one only. 

To see the full report, see below.