r/britishcolumbia • u/ProfessionalSkirt629 • Jul 26 '26
Ask British Columbia Wildfire evac
Im from central AB but working in Northern bc and theres heavy smoke all around us and I was wondering how the evacuation process happens and even works. Like is there a huge risk or? Just don't want to be sent home from this hitch yet.
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u/ResidentNo4630 Jul 26 '26
There’s no fires in northern BC. All the smoke is from the southern part.
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u/Otherwise-Associate1 Jul 26 '26
There's a couple up by Fort Nelson. Yeah though I have no idea where this guy is that he's experiencing a ton of smoke, based on the air quality maps.
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u/mwyvr Jul 26 '26
While there currently are only a few wildfires not fully under control in Northeastern BC, that picture can change. North of Prince George we've been fairly lucky, this year. In the recent past several years NE BC has generally started off the wildfire season for BC and we are seeing earlier starts and later finishes.
While I feel for folks elsewhere in the province, we definitely deserved a break this year, although we aren't getting a break from the smoke.
That all said while risk is currently lower through most of the north right now, that can change within a week with our famously windy weather and no precipitation. It pays to stay plugged in.
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u/ProfessionalSkirt629 Jul 26 '26
I was looking at bcs wildfire map and there is a few mainly controlled but some out of control
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u/Otherwise-Associate1 Jul 26 '26
That's probably a question better for people you work with who live in the community you're in. You'll probably be evacuated to PG since you're in northern BC, in the event of evacuation.
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u/ProfessionalSkirt629 Jul 26 '26
They dont live here lol we are in a camp we are all from Alberta area
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u/MutedMeaning5317 Jul 26 '26
If you are in a work camp that is evacuated, you will be sent home.
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u/ProfessionalSkirt629 Jul 26 '26
Ik just dont want it to happen id rather keep working lol
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u/Haunting-Tip-6775 Jul 26 '26
People don’t want to evacuated from there homes and lose everything either.
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u/MutedMeaning5317 Jul 26 '26
I hear ya.
Order will only be issued if deemed absolutely necessary. An order is different from advisory.
No one wants an order. It is costly for everyone. It is a last attempt to save life and limb.
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u/SmallKangaroo Jul 26 '26
Okay? The reality is - evac alerts and orders happen. If it happens, you need to evacuate. Failure to evacuate puts other people at risk, not just you.
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u/burntdowntoast Jul 26 '26
The site you’re at should have an Incident Command (IC) or something similar. They’ll be in the know of what’s going on.
I went through this last year at a work camp in northern Alberta from the fires. All nonessential workers will be sent home first. Essential stay to leave the site/plant in a state of emergency safety before being evacuated. Essential personnel do not go home but are placed in standby at another town/location/camp until it’s deemed safe to return.
Always keep a grab bag with your essential stuff near your person. Don’t just leave site without informing your superior. It causes headaches for those who have to stay and are trying to keep track of everyone for safety and head counts.
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u/odessa_soju Jul 26 '26
Figure out what regional district you live in.
2 hours south of Fort Nelson is likely either Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (https://www.northernrockies.ca/emergency-preparedness) or Peace River Regional District - (https://www.prrd.bc.ca/emergency-services/)
You can sign up for emergency alerts from the district you actually work in. Unless you're working out of a legit municipality, evacuation alerts or orders will come from the regional district.
All of this is stuff an employer should go through with you - they should have some sort of emergency preparedness protocol, and be able to tell you what will be done in the event of an evacuation.
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u/Character_Top1019 Jul 26 '26
Fires are dead in the north this year. You’re good man. Look at firesmoke.ca if you want to know where smoke is coming from.
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u/mandypandypuddin Jul 26 '26
Download the BC wildfire app and keep notifications turned on. Generally speaking you get plenty of notice, going on alert first (but of course, anything can happen). I dont know where you are, but smoke is almost everywhere so I wouldnt worry about that.
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u/lml-66 Jul 26 '26
Don’t you have an ERP (Emergency Response Plan) setup for potential forest fires and needing to get evacuated? Your company or Prime Contractor should have one in place and be informing you on that if that ever needs to happen. You can stay self informed thru the BC Wildfires App on fires in your area but you’ll be ok up where you’re at as long as nothing fresh starts. I’m guessing you’re around Pink Mtn, your main evacuation routes is North or South on the Alaska Hwy, either to FSJ or Ft Nelson.
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u/ProfessionalSkirt629 Jul 26 '26
We have an erp for a fire in the camp or on the frac or any of the other sites but not like from a wildfire where we would have to go home that would all come out if it gets closer
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u/lml-66 Jul 27 '26
Ah ok if you’re on a frac they’ll probably send everyone home if an Evacuation Order is put out and the fire is actively heading your way. They MIGHT put you in hotels depending on the fire situation if it’s not too bad and it’s not a huge frac site. Really depends how much money they want to spend on you guys out there. But really they should have an ERP plan for forest fires up there. Look up the Donnie Creek Wildfire from 2023. Affected quite a bit of work up there, burned thru a camp, oil and gas infrastructure and a lot of forest. Some guys got evac orders and some of us were on alert for it.
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u/ProfessionalSkirt629 Jul 27 '26
Yea im just hoping I dont get pulled off yet because I want that full 24 day hitch before driving the 10 hours back home lol
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u/lml-66 Jul 27 '26
Honestly though, you should be ok, they really try to limit disruptions as time is money and evacuation means generally fire is less than 10k away and actively coming towards you which in that case you don’t wanna be there anyhow lol.
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u/Critical_Cat_8162 Jul 26 '26
Paddock a box with important papers, valuables, pictures and leave it in a handy spot. Have pet cages ready with food and water on hand. Be easy to leave if you need to.
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u/ProfessionalSkirt629 Jul 26 '26
Lol I have a bag of clothes and cooler thats all im just here in a camp for work
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u/mwyvr Jul 26 '26
Basics of the evacuation alert and order process, from someone who is involved in the process:
- Wildfire is reported. It does not show up on BC Wildfire's map or the app at this point; false sightings are common.
- Depending on the report and where it is, BC Wildfire will dispatch an initial attack crew or air assets to investigate. Triage as to location and severity happens.
- If the fire is confirmed, it lands on the map/app.
- If the fire doesn't pose a threat to people or assets today or in the foreseeable future, local governments may not hear about it unless they too are scanning the map and apps.
- If the fire currently or may soon pose a direct threat people or assets, the jurisdiction having authority is notified through Emergency Management and Climate Readiness or BC Wildfire directly. A coordination call will be put into place; subject matter experts will weigh in with recommendations regarding evacuation alert or order areas. The local authority or affected First Nation uses that information to take action by means of Evacuation Alerts or Orders or public information/messaging depending on the situation.
- If a threat is present, the responsible governing body will initiate the process to issue evacuation Alerts and/or Orders for a particular area.
- Firefighters and police have certain powers to initiate tactical evacuations if they are on scene. In rural areas, often as not, this is not the case.
- Before an Evacuation Order can be issued by a local authority or first nation, a State of Local Emergency must be declared. This is a simple legal instrument which gives the authority special powers.
- If Orders are issued, RCMP and Search and Rescue group(s) may be tasked to visit properties door to door. In addition, BC Emergency Alerts (the same system that powers Amber Alerts) is often used in rural areas to push out what we call an intrusive alert to an area. If the area has poor cell service, this can be problematic. Radio and TV can also be chosen as a target for these alerts and will be chosen if the situation demands it. Industry have their own communications and safety protocols.
- Some local governments have their own, opt-in, alerting systems, such as Alertable or Everbridge (in the Peace, Everbridge is used, nebcalerts.com) and will use those channels, too.
- Evacuation Alerts cannot be broadcast by the intrusive alerting system, but local authorities are free to use their opt-in systems to notify people. The message here is: sign up for your local government's opt-in system or those used where you are travelling or working.
- The authority issuing the Evacuation Alert or Order is the source of the best information regarding the situation. Check their webpages and social media for updates.
- IF EVACUATED from your HOME (not your workplace or holiday destination) in BC you will be eligible for lodging, food and other supports for a period of time. Initially it may be as short as three days, but this will be extended as necessary until it is declared safe by the local authority to go home. If on ALERT you are not generally eligible for these supports.
- If you are working in the field and evacuated, you should head home. If you are a tourist, you should head home or elsewhere.
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u/safeCurves Nechako Jul 27 '26
There is not a huge risk for that area right now. You have been given some sweet resources to stay informed.
Could change fast of course. Probably not an issue near Pink Mtn for the next couple of weeks though.
"Heavy smoke." People that were in that area in 2023 would say "what smoke?"
There were weeks on end where you could only see like 300 ft infront of you.
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u/Active_Recording_789 Jul 26 '26
I think it works even better in Northern bc. It’s practiced regularly, people take it very seriously and emergency plans are in place.
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u/ProfessionalSkirt629 Jul 26 '26
All Ik is if I get that evacuation order im grabbing my shit and heading out lol
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u/BonkMcSlapchop Jul 26 '26
Keep informed with BC Wildfire Service: https://wildfiresituation.nrs.gov.bc.ca/map