Evacuation order issued for some properties threatened by Kiskatinaw River wildfire 

DAWSON CREEK, B.C. — Residents in the path of a wildfire located south of Dawson Creek and moving towards the Alberta border are urged to leave their homes as soon as possible.

The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) has partially upgraded its evacuation alert for the Kiskatinaw River wildfire – a blaze that has now reached 4,590 hectares in size – to an evacuation order.

The evacuation order affects the following area:

• Approximately 18.6 kilometres south of the One Island Lake turn-off on Highway 52 east
• Due west 10.6 kilometres
• Due south 14 kilometres
• Due east 7.3 kilometres to Highway 52 east
• Due east 15 kilometres to the B.C. border
• Due north 12 kilometres to a point along the B.C. border
• Due west 10 kilometres to Highway 52 east

Residents in the affected area are urged to shut off their gas and electrical appliances, other than refrigerators and freezers, and to lock all their doors and windows. From there, they’re told to latch but not lock their gates, then gather their families and any neighbours who might need transportation.

In terms of what to bring, residents should take critical items like their identification, credit cards, medications, cell phones, chargers and keys if they’re immediately available, and to bring their pets along either in their kennels or on leashes.

Once they leave, evacuees should make their way to the City of Dawson Creek. Once they arrive, they can register for Emergency Support Services (ESS) at Sudetan Hall, located at 1901 Alaska Highway.

The latest updates on the evacuation order will be posted to the PRRD website. Energeticcity.ca will update this story with new information as it becomes available.