A hot spot from the Lower East Adams Lake wildfire burns in Scotch Creek, B.C., on Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023. The B.C. Wildfire Service says the tactical evacuation of "multiple neighbourhoods" is underway in Fort Nelson, as an out-of-control wildfire threatens the town in the province's northeast. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
FORT NELSON, B.C. – Thousands of people in northeast British Columbia have been ordered to evacuate and flee south as a fast-growing wildfire threatens the town of Fort Nelson.
The evacuation order was issued by the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality and Fort Nelson First Nations around 7:15 p.m.
The communities are being threatened by an out-of-control wildfire that the municipality says is about 12 kilometres west of the town, and that exploded in size late Friday.
Fort Nelson and the Fort Nelson Indian Reserve have a combined population of about 3,000.
The B.C. Wildfire Service says the blaze measures eight square kilometres in size and is highly visible from the town, as groundcrews and two bucketing helicopters battle to control it.
The service says that in addition to wildfire service firefighters, members of the local fire department and the RCMP are responding, and air tanker support has been requested.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 10, 2024.
