UPDATE Parker Lake wildfire grows beyond 4,000 hectares

UPDATE (7:15 p.m. May 12th): BCWS has provided a video update about the Parker Lake wildfire. Click here to view our latest story.

UPDATE (4:00 p.m. May 12th): This article has been updated with the latest information from the BC Wildfire Service.

FORT NELSON, B.C. — The Parker Lake wildfire north of Fort Nelson has grown again, to more than 4,000 hectares.

The blaze, discovered on Friday, May 10th, has now reached 4,136 hectares in size, according to the BC Wildfire Service.

As of Sunday morning, the fire had grown from 1,696 hectares to 2,483 hectares.

Pedro Roldan-Delgado, an Information Officer with the Prince George Fire Centre, says BCWS will be publishing a video update on the blaze Sunday afternoon.

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

“The fire experienced minimal growth overnight and remains located approximately 3.5 km west of Fort Nelson proper as there was no progression eastward,” the latest update reads. 

“With easterly winds [Sunday, May 12th], the backend of the fire on the northwest flank will receive clear air and increased fire activity is expected as available fuel remains dry and receptive.”

The site also says cloudier and windier conditions are set to reach Fort Nelson from the south Sunday, and continue into the week.

BCWS says it’s working hard alongside the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (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.”

An evacuation order issued Friday by the NRRM and Fort Nelson First Nation remains in effect, as to separate evacuation alerts issued by both groups.

According to an interview with NRRM Mayor Rob Fraser Saturday morning, nearly all residents had been safely evacuated.

Saturday night, the NRRM issued a warning urging the last remaining residents in Fort Nelson to evacuate, saying there was a serious chance for the blaze to grow significantly over the coming days.

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.

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