British Columbia’s Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, Bowinn Ma, delivered an urgent update today regarding the wildfire situation in the province. Speaking to reporters, Minister Ma provided details about the Parker Lake wildfire, which has led to significant evacuations and continues to threaten communities in the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality.
“Over the weekend and as of 7 a.m. this morning, approximately 4,700 people were placed under an evacuation order due to the Parker Lake wildfire,” Ma announced. The evacuation order affects the town of Fort Nelson and the Fort Nelson First Nation, with additional evacuation alerts recently upgraded for 80 more properties.
The Parker Lake Wildfire
The wildfire, which started on May 10, has now expanded to over 5,280 hectares and is situated 2.5 kilometers west of Fort Nelson. Minister Ma emphasized the critical nature of the next 48 hours, citing forecasted westerly winds and extremely dry conditions that could exacerbate the wildfire’s spread. “We may begin to see volatile wildfire activity later this afternoon,” she warned.
BC Wildfire Service has mobilized significant resources to combat the fire. Cliff Chapman, Director of Provincial Operations for BC Wildfire Service, detailed the deployment: “We have an incident management team, 70 BC Wildfire Service firefighters, 19 rotary-wing aircraft, air tankers, 17 pieces of heavy equipment, and 70 structural protection personnel and equipment on site.”
Impact and Support for Evacuees
Minister Ma acknowledged the distress faced by those evacuated. “This is an extremely difficult time for the people impacted. Our thoughts are with you, and the province is here to support you.” Reception centers have been established in Fort St. John, Dawson Creek, Chetwynd, and Prince George, providing accommodation, food, and other essentials. Additional accommodation with 200 rooms has been arranged at Sunset Prairie.
Efforts to assist evacuees include registering them for emergency support services and providing mental health support through the disaster psychosocial services deployed to Fort St. John. Evacuees can access mental health resources by calling the BC Mental Health Line at 310-6789, available 24/7.
Conditions and Challenges
The wildfire’s expansion is being closely monitored, with particular concern over the expected winds. “We are facing some extremely challenging conditions in the north,” Ma stated, noting the persistent drought conditions since 2023 that have left the area highly vulnerable.
Chapman added insights on the fire behavior and management strategies: “Last night, we were expecting westerly winds but fortunately didn’t see them materialize. However, we do expect them later this morning and continuing for the next 48 hours.” He also explained the role of the additional incident management team sent to Fort Nelson, which supports both the Parker Lake fire efforts and other regional fires.
Community and Government Response
The local and provincial response includes significant coordination and resource mobilization. “Our deepest thanks go to our firefighters, BC Wildfire Service firefighters, and local firefighters working around the clock,” Ma said. The community’s cooperation in evacuating has been commendable, though a small number of individuals have chosen to stay behind. Ma urged these individuals to evacuate immediately for their safety.
In response to questions about the preparedness for and management of holdover fires, Chapman explained the ongoing efforts and challenges. “Holdover fires often burn deep underground and are not always extinguished by winter conditions. We planned for these fires and deployed resources proactively, but the dry conditions have made this year particularly challenging.”
Looking ahead, both Ma and Chapman acknowledged the need for continued investment in wildfire prevention and community resilience. Programs like the Community Resiliency Investment Program and the Wildfire Resiliency Program are critical in helping communities prepare and mitigate wildfire risks.
The province continues to monitor the situation closely and is ready to call in additional resources if needed. For now, the focus remains on supporting evacuees and containing the Parker Lake wildfire to protect homes and communities.
Minister Ma closed her update by reinforcing the collective effort needed to combat the wildfire threat. “This is a dynamic situation for all people living in the northeast. You are not alone; we are in this together and will continue to get through this together.”
For more updates, residents are advised to stay informed through official channels and heed all evacuation orders and safety advisories.