Canadian authorities are strongly advising all remaining residents in Fort Nelson located in British Columbia to evacuate immediately, despite signs of improving weather conditions, following widespread evacuations due to a rapidly spreading wildfire.
The wildfire, which ignited on Friday, nearly doubled in size within a day since the last report about fires devastating Western Canada, encompassing approximately 17 square kilometers (4,200 acres). BC Wildfire Service maps indicate the fire’s proximity, merely a few kilometers (miles) west of Fort Nelson’s city limits.
Situated in the far northeastern corner of British Columbia, Fort Nelson is approximately 1,600 kilometers (995 miles) from Vancouver. The town, along with the Fort Nelson Indian Reserve, is home to a combined population of about 3,000 individuals.
In 2023, Canada experienced an unprecedented number of wildfires, resulting in pervasive smoke affecting parts of the U.S. and necessitating the evacuation of tens of thousands of individuals across British Columbia.
Authorities in Alberta also issued alerts regarding a wildfire approximately 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) southwest of the oil sands city of Fort McMurray, potentially impacting highway visibility in certain areas. As of now, no evacuation orders have been issued for the major Canadian oil city.
In 2016, over 80,000 people evacuated from Fort McMurray, located in the heart of Canada’s oil sands, as a devastating fire destroyed 1,600 homes and other structures.
Strong winds on Saturday dispersed smoke across Alberta, prompting an air quality advisory for the city of Edmonton, where hazard levels reached a rating of 10-plus, indicating a “very high risk.”
Meteorologists have not forecasted rainfall and are advising residents to remain indoors.
Videos shared online by local residents depicted thick smoke billowing into the sky from the Fort Nelson wildfire, with houses visible in the background. Some images portrayed vast areas blanketed in haze.
The Northern Rockies Regional Municipality and Fort Nelson First Nation issued a joint statement cautioning those opting to stay behind that emergency medical services, groceries, and other amenities are unavailable.
Mayor Rob Fraser of the municipality mentioned that the majority of residents in and around Fort Nelson have evacuated, with police conducting door-to-door checks to ensure everyone has left.
Health authorities confirmed the safe evacuation and closure of Fort Nelson General Hospital until further notice.