Wind could push rapidly growing wildfire into Fort Nelson, B.C.: BCWS

A fast-growing wildfire near Fort Nelson, B.C., that has forced thousands to flee their homes could spread into the town itself, the B.C. Wildfire Service warned.

A fast-growing wildfire near Fort Nelson, B.C., that has forced thousands to flee their homes could spread into the town itself, the B.C. Wildfire Service warned.

On Sunday morning, the Parker Lake Wildfire’s estimated size was 2,843 hectares. By Sunday afternoon, it had grown to 4,136 hectares. The fire is burning out of control about 3.5 kilometres from Fort Nelson.

Evacuation orders remain in place for roughly 3,000 residents of Fort Nelson and the surrounding area, and the Fort Nelson First Nation.

Strong forecasted winds and dry fuels have experts predicting Fort Nelson proper “may be impacted” sometime Monday morning, said BCWS fire behaviour specialist Ben Boghean in a video update posted online Sunday afternoon.

The fire was already threatening structures along the Old Alaskan Highway west of the town as of 3 p.m. Sunday, he said.

And the fire is expected to continue spreading west-southwest toward Highway 97 and the Fort Nelson First Nation with a “timed impact” at 6 p.m. Monday.

“The next 48 hours will be challenging for the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality given forecasted westerly winds and extreme dry and volatile fuels in the area,” Boghean said.