UPDATE: Parker Lake wildfire near Fort Nelson grows to 1,696 hectares

UPDATE (10:00 a.m. May 12th): This story has been updated to include new information from the BC Wildfire Service.

UPDATE (11:30 a.m., May 11th): This story has been updated to include new information from NRRM Mayor Rob Fraser.

FORT NELSON, B.C. — The Parker Lake wildfire has grown to more than 1,600 hectares, and it’s unknown right now if the blaze has caused any damage to property in Fort Nelson.

According to Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM) Deputy Corporate Manager Stacey Aspden, it’s not possible right now for NRRM crews to determine if the fire has damaged any property in the area.

“Not at this time,” Aspden said when asked. “It’s a bit tenuous circumstances out there to get — like, we can’t see, because of the visibility, so we don’t have an accurate assessment of that at this time.”

The fire was discovered just before 4:00 p.m. Friday, southeast of the Highway 77 junction.

According to the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS), the suspected cause of the now-1696-hectare fire is human activity. 

The Northern Rockies Regional Municipality originally estimated the fire to be burning about 12 kilometres west of Fort Nelson, but BC Wildfire Service maps show the blaze’s coverage has reached about 6 kilometres west of city limits.

It’s also the only blaze in all of BC labeled as a “wildfire of note,” which means it’s of significant public interest and may pose a threat to public safety, according to Prince George Fire Centre Information Officer Pedro Roldan-Delgado.

Roldan-Delgado also says BCWS is putting significant resources towards battling back the blaze.

“We do have roughly 44 BCWS firefighters on scene, as well as 17 helicopters assigned to the Fort Nelson zone, so they would be responding to this wildfire or any other wildfires needed in the area, as well as air tankers available should they be required,” he explained.

“We also do have a structure protection specialist. Their role is to go around and set up structure protection systems in areas that seem achievable to maintain.”

Roldan-Delgado also says there are seven additional pieces of heavy equipment, with sixteen additional support staff, dedicated to fighting the fire.

When asked if there was any risk of the fire reaching city limits today, Roldan-Delgado said the Prince George Fire Centre’s Incident Management Team continues to assess the situation.

“Staff is definitely working hard to keep that from happening, but it just really depends on what the weather will bring for today.”

He also adds that one significant factor making it easier for firefighters to deal with the blaze is reduced winds compared to Friday.

“They’re not gusting to 70 kilometres per hour, I believe they’re only going to be gusting 30, and that will be dropping throughout the day to be light and variable winds, so we’re not seeing as intense fire behaviour today.”

According to the BCWS website, lower wind speeds, cooler temperatures and lingering smoke on May 11th led to “significantly reduced fire behaviour” compared to Friday.

“The fire remains located approximately 3.5 km west of Fort Nelson proper,” the latest update reads. “Areas of the fire exposed to clean air remained actively burning as available fuel continues to remain dry and receptive.”

BCWS says it’s working hard alongside the NRRM and its municipal fire department to protect structures within Fort Nelson and create containment lines.

“On the southeast flank, heavy equipment completed a containment line from the Muskwa to the road junction of the Alaska highway and the old Alaska highway. Heavy equipment crews will begin contingency line construction southeast of Fort Nelson tomorrow, May 12.”

Fort Nelson General Hospital has been safely evacuated and patients relocated to Northern Health facilities in Fort St. John and Dawson Creek. Fort Nelson General Hospital is currently closed.

Smoke from the blaze is impacting air quality as far away as Fort St. John, with the B.C. air quality index showing current air quality in the city is significantly worse than provincial targets.

Environment Canada issued a special air quality statement for the Peace region Saturday morning, saying widespread smoke is likely to impact the region for the next 24 to 48 hours.

Because of the wildfire, Highway 77 is completely closed, and Highway 97 is closed north of Fort Nelson, according to DriveBC.

The wildfire has also knocked out 911 service and disrupted telecommunications in the Yukon and Northern B.C., with officials in the territory asking residents who need help in Whitehorse to go directly to the local RCMP detachment, fire halls or ambulances stationed at various parts of the city. Mobile phone service is still operational in Fort Nelson.

The NRRM issued an evacuation order Friday night. NRRM Mayor Rob Fraser says the majority of the community was able to leave Fort Nelson before Saturday morning.

“We got close to 100% of the community out by midnight last night,” Fraser says.

“They’re going to the reception centre in Fort St. John, they’re being put up in hotels in Fort St. John, Dawson Creek, Chetwynd, and, as of this morning, I’ve heard that they’re actually starting to divert some people to Prince George.”

Fraser also says he’s seen firefighters make progress ever since the winds died down Friday night.

“I’m optimistic,” he says. “I’ll just put it that way.”

Evacuees are urged to:

• Please proceed immediately to Alaska Highway (Hwy 97) and head south.
• If you need assistance with transportation from the area, call 250-774-6121
• Close and lock all windows and doors. Shut off gas and electrical appliances, other than refrigerators and freezers.
• Gather your family. Take pets in pet kennels or on a leash.
• Take critical items (medicine, purse, wallet, keys and grab-and-go bag) only if they are immediately available. 
• Do not use more vehicles than needed. If time permits, check with neighbours and assist those with special needs. 
• Assist your local Emergency Support Services Team by self-registering now on the Evacuee Registration and Assistance website at www.ess.gov.bc.ca. 

The City of Fort St. John is also running the Emergency Support Services reception centre at the North Peace Arena on 96 avenue. A second reception centre will also be open in Dawson Creek at the Sudeten Hall, 1901 Alaska Hwy. That centre is open from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.

The City of Fort St. John has put out a Facebook post urging residents to help support evacuees, by providing them with activities to keep themselves occupied and opening their doors to pets as billet families.

With files from the Canadian Press.