Entire community of Tumbler Ridge evacuated due to wildfire danger

Wildfire-related evacuations have been issued and expanded in the Peace River Regional District (PRRD), with the district citing a “threat to life safety.”

Earlier Thursday afternoon, an evacuation order was issued for residents of Tumbler Ridge — a community of about 2,400 people in northwestern B.C. near the Alberta border.

The order was issued because of the West Kiskatinaw River Fire, which is burning out of control at 9,600 hectares as of Thursday afternoon.

According to a release from the PRRD, “additional areas under order are north of the District of Tumbler Ridge municipal boundary, between Hwy 29S and Hwy 52N, including Moose Lake and Moose Lake Forestry Service Road.”

Locals are asked to drive “by safest route” towards Dawson Creek, as Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka says two other routes have been cut off.

He tells CityNews people looking for rooms to stay in will have to head to Dawson Creek or Fort St. John.

“ESS has opened up a centre in Chetwynd, but my understanding is their rooms are full. Dawson Creek also has an ESS open, and Forst St. John is activating an ESS as well,” he said.

An evacuation order has been issued in and around the small community of Tumbler Ridge, B.C. (Courtesy: Peace River Regional District)

Canadian Ranger Joline Couture says heavy smoke hung in the air Thursday when the order to evacuate came through, and many in the area were already prepared to leave before the order came down.

“The majority of people already had a prep bag ready. Tumbler Ridge is surrounded by forest, so this is not their first kick at the can with having to deal with forest fires,” she said. “So you have your evacuation bag, and once everybody got the order, a lot of people had their cars packed and ready to go.”

Krakowka says the last time Tumbler Ridge was evacuated due to wildfire-related reasons was back in 2006.

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The PRRD says the evacuation order doesn’t include First Nations communities who conduct their own orders and alerts.

If anyone needs help getting out of the area, the PRRD asks locals to call 1-800-670-7773.

With files from Greg Bowman and John Ackermann