Next 48 hours will be 'extremely challenging' for B.C. wildfire crews near Fort Nelson: officials

A wildfire burning dangerously close to Fort Nelson, B.C., has grown to more than 50 square kilometres, and officials are warning that the blaze's behaviour is expected to become more volatile over the next 48 hours.

A wildfire burning dangerously close to Fort Nelson, B.C., has grown to more than 50 square kilometres, and officials are warning that the blaze's behaviour is expected to become more volatile over the next 48 hours.

Emergency Preparedness Minister Bowinn Ma provided an update on the Parker Lake wildfire Monday morning saying the forecast calls for "extremely challenging conditions" for crews across the northeastern part of the province.

"We know that drought conditions have persisted," she said. "This has made the hills in the area extremely dry with no precipitation, no major precipitation in the forecast ahead. And with winds that can pick up at any time – let's just say we are extremely concerned."

Cliff Chapman, with the B.C. Wildfire Service, said westerly winds with gusts up to 30 km/h are expected to begin Monday afternoon.

"Those winds are going to be here for the next 48 hours. And it's really just about when they show up and how long they're going to last," he said.

Fort Nelson and the Fort Nelson First Nation were ordered to evacuate on Friday, forcing around 4,700 people to flee. The fire is burning roughly 2.5 kilometres outside of the community.

"It is not unprecedented but it is quite rare," Ma said, when asked if this is the earliest the province has seen a wildfire-related evacuation order.