More than 2,000 ordered to evacuate from B.C.'s Tumbler Ridge, a UNESCO Global Geopark, due to nearby wildfire

Residents of Tumbler Ridge in B.C. have been ordered to evacuate due to the risk of a nearby uncontrolled wildfire, with a Thursday notice saying the West Kiskatinaw River wildfire to the east is now a threat to human life. 

The order covers the District of Tumbler Ridge, home to roughly 2,400 people in northeast B.C., as well as properties to the east, including homes at Bearhole Lake. The wildfire is an estimated 96 square kilometres in size.

According to the district, Highway 52 East has now been shut down in both directions because the fire is close by.

The Peace River Regional District (PRRD), which includes Tumbler Ridge, is asking those on evacuation order to register at reception centres or online to receive accommodation and other essentials like grocery vouchers. 

"I'm asking people that they follow the order and leave our community," said Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka, adding he has seen many residents filling up their tank and leaving town Thursday afternoon.

In a Facebook post, the District of Tumbler Ridge said anyone who needed assistance evacuating should call 911: "The local emergency response team will be able to assist you."

As of 8 p.m. Thursday, hotels were fully booked in both Dawson Creek and Chetwynd, according to the PRRD, although some camping spots were still available in those areas.

Those looking for hotel accommodation are now asked to head to Fort St. John, where they can register at the Pomeroy Sport Centre. 

Paul Landrecht says he and his partner left Tumbler Ridge and arrived at the emergency reception centre in Dawson Creek just before 5 p.m. 

But after waiting for three hours, they were told all the reserved hotel rooms were full, and they would have to travel about 75 kilometres north to Fort St. John.

"Everybody's stressed and my animals are all stressed, everybody was not expecting to grab their cats and dogs and run for the hills," said Landrecht, adding he and his partner were household number 106 out of 245 waiting to get registered.

"There's hundreds of people being turned away now," he wrote to CBC later in the evening. 

"This is a real failure in the system."

"It was kind of like, 'Holy hell, here we go again,'" said resident Judy Proulx, referring to another wildfire evacuation in the community in July 2006.