By Greg Fry with files from Canadian Press

Wildfire response

City of Prince George offers travel information for Jasper wildfire evacuees

Jul 23, 2024 | 7:13 AM

PRINCE GEORGE —Update:The City of Prince George has so far welcomed roughly 100 evacuees from the Jasper area. Among those are three buses of evacuees that arrived overnight, and currently the Emergency Support Services (ESS) reception is mainly receiving individual vehicles.

City of Prince George Emergency Support Services are not providing lodging or food services, but are available to assist evacuees make their own arrangements.

Earlier: The City of Prince George says evacuees travelling from Jasper and Jasper National Park should continue on Highway 16 through B.C. and select a route back to Alberta as designated reception centres are opening in Grand Prairie and in Calgary.

• If travelling to Grande Prairie: Take highway 16 west to Prince George, then proceed north to Dawson Creek via highway 97, and east to Grande Prairie.
  • The Grade Prairie Reception Centre is located at Bonnets Energy Centre, 10017 99 Ave, Grande Prairie, A.B., and will open at 9:00am on Tuesday, July 23.
• If travelling to Calgary: Take highway 5 south to Kamloops, then proceed East on Highway 1 to Calgary.
  • Please ensure you are refueling appropriately as you travel between communities.

Stop and rest as needed. Evacuees can stop for rest in both Valemount and McBride:

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Village of Valemount

• Valemount Community Hall at 101 Gorse Street
• Short term parking is available at the Canoe Valley Recreation Centre at 100 Elm Street, behind the Valemount Community Hall.

Village of McBride

• Robson Valley Community Centre at 441 Columbia Street

Evacuees can stop and shelter in vehicles in Prince George at CN Centre (2187 Ospika Blvd S.) before continuing to Grande Prairie. Further updates will be provided as it becomes available.

It’s all in response to a wildfire that broke out around the town’s transfer station, located approximately nine kilometres northeast of the Jasper townsite.

Parks Canada said in a Facebook post that evacuations had already taken place at numerous campgrounds, as well as the Athabasca Hostel and the Palisades Stewardship and Education Centre.

“Parks Canada is responding to multiple wildfire starts. This is an evolving and dynamic situation,” the agency said in the post.

About 7,500 people in Alberta were under evacuation orders Monday.

Motorists beware: Highway 16 eastbound traffic remains closed at the junction of Highway 5 /16due to the B.C. Alberta border due to wildfire activity in the region. Westbound traffic is open for evacuation purposes. Check Drive BC for updates.