Northern Rockies Regional Municipality restoring limited capacity to local businesses

Local Journalism Initiative

May 23, 2024 at 2:50 p.m.·1 min read

Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM) has further lifted evacuation restrictions in Fort Nelson after the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) announced that the imminent risk of wildfires to the community has been significantly reduced.

The announcement on May 22nd follows the evacuation access permits issued by the town, which began over the long weekend.

The community is working to get residents back to Fort Nelson before renewing Emergency Support Services support next week.

According to the latest Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) update released by the NRRM, phase two of the re-opening plan involves restoring most critical businesses to a limited capacity until town services are fully sufficient for more residents.

The update says the third phase involves life support services once phase two businesses are in place to support the personnel required to operate those businesses.

Local grocers IGA and Save-On-Foods in Fort Nelson will be open daily beginning May 23rd, with limited staffing from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. The NRRM says items and quantities may be limited.

The Parker Lake wildfire, reported on May 10th, is currently at 12,348 hectares, and the Patry Creek wildfire, located 25 kilometres north of Fort Nelson, is 74,344 hectares, according to the BCWS’s latest report.

On Wednesday, NRRM Mayor Rob Fraser told Energeticcity.ca that favourable weather conditions, including rain, over the past several days slowed the wildfire activity.

BCWS has taken structural protection measures down in Fort Nelson, allowing the second phase of the town’s re-opening plan.

Edward Hitchins, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Energeticcity.ca

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