Risks escalating as wildfire rages near Fort Nelson, B.C.
CBC
Poor internet connection? Access a low-bandwidth, accessible version of this story on CBC Lite.
The latest:
Officials are saying the risks posed by a wildfire near Fort Nelson, B.C., are likely to escalate on Sunday as winds push the blaze toward the community.
The Parker Lake wildfire, which officials say was sparked by a downed tree on Friday evening, has resulted in an evacuation order being issued for the entire community of around 3,400 people, as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation in B.C.'s northeast.
According to the B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS), the fire grew from 17 square kilometres in size on Saturday to around 25 square kilometres on Sunday morning, and remains around 3.5 kilometres west of the community.
While the BCWS says fire activity was reduced on Saturday, officials are warning that an incoming weather system on Sunday is likely to push the blaze in the community's direction.
The First Nation has issued an expanded evacuation order covering one home and "many cultural sites" on Sunday.
The Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM) urged anyone still in Fort Nelson to leave, and warned its emergency operations centre would be relocating south of town, further limiting its ability to communicate with residents.
"The potential risks posed by the wildfires in and around Fort Nelson have escalated to a greater level, and the incoming weather system is bringing strong winds from the west which has the real potential to significantly increase the size of the fires over the next 48 hours," the Saturday notice warns.
"At this time, all residents who are currently remaining within the community are strongly urged to reconsider and evacuate immediately. You are our friends, family and neighbours. Please stay safe."
The final buses out of the community, it said, would be leaving from the Woodlands Inn at noon local time on Sunday, at which point no further help would be available.
NRRM Mayor Rob Fraser had told CBC News on Saturday that the evacuation order had gone well, and most people had left, but the exact number of people staying behind was not provided.
In a joint statement on Saturday, NRRM and Fort Nelson First Nation said people staying behind despite the evacuation orders should be aware that "emergency medical services are not available, nor are groceries or other amenities."
"Utilities may become impacted to support fire response efforts," the statement said. "Communication networks are precarious, which could impact the ability to reach residents to advise of changing conditions."
Grade 12 student Kaitlynn Carnie says her day starts with a simple question: Can I handle school today?
Voters in District 2, Georgetown-Pownal, are heading to the polls today to choose their next MLA.
Every year when the giant inflatable turkey comes out at the Griffiths Ford dealership in Hinton, Alta., the town’s residents know the holiday season has arrived.
While most students head home after school in Fort St. John, B.C., brothers Arjen and Henry Pos lean over a workbench sealing welds on a half-finished go-kart frame.
After 29 years working at the Metro grocery store in St. Catharines, Ont., Anne-Marie Stevens says, when it comes to theft, "now it doesn't seem like it matters."
Ontario jails are heading toward a record year for overcrowding, remand populations and lockdowns just as politicians debate bail reforms that could lead to a further influx of accused behind bars, data analyzed by CBC News reveals.
It’s been a deadly year on Calgary’s streets.
Jails in northern Ontario are facing some of the worst overcrowding pressures in the province, with population data showing dramatic increases since 2019.
Northwest Toronto's newly-opened light-rail transit (LRT) line is getting its first major test Monday, as weekday commuters bring rush hour to the Finch West LRT for the first time.
Demolition of Kitchener's Frederick Street bridge is underway in order to prepare for work on a new Highway 7 between Guelph and Kitchener.
With her siblings, parents and late husband in mind, Marguerite Keating requested the song O Holy Night during a Sunday service in Charlottetown.
The majority of fraud cases in Ontario have ended with charges being stayed or withdrawn since 2020 because of COVID-19-related backlogs, the growing complexity of frauds, and a lack of resources in the province’s criminal justice system, according to the Ontario Crown Attorneys’ Association.
Ontario Provincial Police in Elgin County say one person has died in a fatal collision along Hwy. 401 in Dutton, west of London.