Thousands ordered to evacuate Fort Nelson, B.C., due to wildfire
CBC
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Residents of the town of Fort Nelson and Fort Nelson First Nation have been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire in northeast B.C., according to an evacuation order issued by the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM) and the nation shortly before 7:30 p.m. PT on Friday.
"Residents are advised to evacuate the area immediately and begin driving south towards Fort St. John. If you have a recreational vehicle, or your own vehicle, fuel stations are being planned along the route south," the NRRM said in a Facebook post.
"If you know of and have the ability to take additional passengers who may need assistance or transportation, please consider doing so."
Fort Nelson is located in northeast B.C. near the border with Yukon, about 1,600 kilometres northeast of Vancouver and 500 kilometres north of Prince George.
Evacuees should report to the the North Peace Arena at 9805 96 Avenue in Fort St John — about 380 kilometres southeast of Fort Nelson — said Jessica Harrison, an information officer for Fort St. John Emergency Support Services.
More than 3,000 people are impacted by the order.
Residents will be facing a roughly four hour drive on a single-lane highway along with hundreds of others and are urged to use caution.
Harrison says they are expecting more than 3,000 people in the next 18 hours and have enough hotel rooms to shelter everyone.
"We're here at the ready to receive our neighbours," she told CBC News on Friday night. "We're looking forward to welcoming them, even though it's a stressful situation."
Anyone who needs help with transportation should call 250-755-0933 and evacuees should register on the Evacuee Registration and Assistance website at www.ess.gov.bc.ca, the district said.
The B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) says the fire, dubbed the Parker Lake fire, is "highly visible" from the town, where approximately 3,400 people live, according to the most recent census. It grew to four square kilometres by 6:30 p.m., overwhelming initial instructions to muster at the recreation centre in Fort Nelson. By 10 p.m. it was eight square kilometres.
The fire, about 12 kilometres northwest of town near Parker Lake, has closed Highway 97. Highway 77 north of Fort Nelson is closed due to another fire, according to Drive B.C.
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