Canada: Emergency crews working to contain wildfires in northeastern British Columbia as of May 21 /update 2

Emergency crews continue working to contain multiple wildfires burning across northeastern British Columbia as of May 21. The Parker Lake Wildfire is located near Highway 97, northwest of Fort Nelson, and has affected more than 12,350 hectares (30,500 acres). The fire began when a tree was blown down by strong winds and fell onto a power line on the evening of May 10. Authorities have issued evacuation orders for more than 4,700 residents in the Fort Nelson area. Officials ordered residents to evacuate to Fort St. John and urged those with the means to travel further to go to Prince George or Dawson Creek. Emergency shelters are located at Exhibition Park in Prince George, Sudetan Hall in Dawson Creek, and North Peace Arena in Fort St. John. Authorities evacuated patients in Fort Nelson General Hospital to facilities in Fort St. John and Dawson Creek, and the hospital is closed until further notice. At least ten properties, four of which are homes, have been damaged by the fire. The Alaska Highway (BC Highway 97) and BC Highway 77 remain closed in the vicinity of the fire. Although the spread of the fire has slowed in recent days, officials have not been able to provide an estimated date on when evacuated residents may be able to return to their homes.

The larger Patry Creek Fire, a holdover fire that began in 2023, is burning to the north of the Parker Lake Fire; the fire is not currently directly threatening homes but requires the attention of valuable firefighting resources and is adding to the poor air quality in the region due to wildfire smoke. Environment Canada has issued special air quality statements for areas of northeastern British Columbia around Fort Nelson as of early May 21.

Authorities have downgraded evacuation orders to evacuation alerts for another fire much further south in the Doig River area. Authorities issued a state of local emergency after more than 300 people were ordered to evacuate to Fort St. John May 13, which is hosting thousands of wildfire evacuees from Fort Nelson due to the Parker Lake Wildfire, before residents were allowed to return home May 20.

Depending on the progression of the wildfires, the status of nearby roads could change over the coming hours and days. Authorities will likely close additional routes within the wildfire complexes and evacuate more communities due to fire activity and the needs of response operators. The return of residents could disrupt traffic flows after authorities lift evacuation orders. Low visibility from smoke and possible ashfall could contribute to traffic delays and congestion in the region. Wildfires may damage power lines and other electricity infrastructure; intermittent power outages are possible in affected areas until restoration work is complete.