‘Panic and anxiety’: Western Canada continues evacuations as wildfires rage on

Smoke from the numerous wildfires has also been causing reduced visibility and air quality issues in several prairie cities

Multiple communities in western Canada issued emergency evacuation orders and alerts this weekend due to wildfires, which experts say are more active than expected this time of year.

Thousands of residents in Fort Nelson, British Columbia are currently under an evacuation order as an out-of-control wildfire continues to burn just 3.5 kilometres west of the community, along Highway 97. The order covers surrounding areas and the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, affecting a total of around 3,500 residents.

Rob Fraser, the Northern Rockies regional municipality mayor, says the wildfire behaviour in northern B.C. this weekend has been “pretty significant.”

“We’ve told people this is their last warning to get out of town,” he told Global News. “It’s starting to get worse.”

In a Saturday night update, the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) said the Parker Lake wildfire “experienced significantly reduced fire behaviour” compared to Friday. Reduced wind speeds, cooler temperatures and lingering smoke all helped dampen the fire’s ability to spread, however dry conditions mean the situation could change rapidly.

Fraser said while speaking to Global News Sunday that the fires were relatively calm at the moment, but thick smoke had “effectively blocked out the sun.”

Fort Nelson’s wildfire is still estimated to be around 1,696 hectares.

Alberta experienced similar fire behaviour this weekend, as firefighters battled strong winds in their effort to douse the flames. Friday evacuation orders in Fort McMurray and Saprae Creek were expanded Saturday to include several new surrounding communities.