Fort Nelson plans gradual return amid wildfire concerns

FORT NELSON, B.C. — The Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM) Mayor Rob Fraser says his team is working on a plan for residents’ return to the town when the BC Wildfire Service says it’s safe to lift current evacuation orders.

The NRRM is currently allowing some residents to return to Fort Nelson with evacuation area access permits.

“The timeframe is completely dependent on the weather and the wildfire,” said Fraser. “In anticipation of that, there are some things that we can do.”

Fraser says the first wave of the return plan, which happened over the weekend, saw utility workers allowed back into the town to ensure services such as hydro, natural gas, water, and sewers were all functional.

“Then, it’s the essential services. For the hospital, Northern Health has a plan and is executing on that plan. The clinic, the drug store, they’re all sort of working their way towards the community with plans to help us set up the community.”

Other essential service workers include grocery store employees, Fraser says.

“We know that when people get back, there will be spoiled food in their fridges and houses. That will be thrown out, and they will want to go to the grocery store, so we’re setting up the grocery stores.”

The next wave will include gas station employees since returning evacuees will need fuel after the long drive home.

Fraser says the NRRM is being very restrictive regarding the permits it approves in case the situation worsens and everyone needs to evacuate again.

“It’s a double-edged sword. Yeah, we’re letting people back in, but it increases our level of responsibility. That’s why it needs to be so restrictive.”

The NRRM confirmed on May 19th that the blaze had destroyed four homes.

Mayor Fraser says a total of ten properties have been damaged, including those four homes, one of which was unoccupied. 

The occupants of the three homes have been notified, and Fraser says the other damages were to small sheds and recreational vehicles.

“There’s no more fire burning in that particular area, so as long as things don’t blow up, we think that’s the extent of the damage for now.”

Fraser says if current weather conditions continue for the next few days, there’s a real chance the Parker Lake wildfire could be contained, or even extinguished, by firefighters.

The BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) isn’t as optimistic, saying in its latest update that a “drying trend” is expected to begin on Wednesday and last into the weekend.

Environment Canada’s forecasts say rain in the area will be limited for the rest of the week after Tuesday.

Fraser says the fire hasn’t grown and that fire activity has gone down over the last 48 hours thanks to precipitation.

“It’s burning back on itself,” Fraser says. “We received two and a half millimetres of rain [Monday] and another five millimetres of rain [Tuesday], so the conditions for fighting fire are excellent.”

According to the BC Wildfire Service, the fire is currently 12,350 hectares in size. As a result of the blaze, Highway 97 is closed north of Fort Nelson and Highway 77 is completely closed.

Fraser urges evacuees to be patient, saying that the BCWS and NRRM are doing everything in their power to make the town safe for people to return to.