Prince George awaits evacuees

So far, however, that hasn’t happened.

“We will continue to remain activated and ready to receive,” said Tanya Spooner, Manager of Emergency Programs for the City of Prince George. “We know that going into the long weekend hotel accommodations throughout the province are slim, so we will continue to be ready to receive people in case there’s any new fires or if people from that area decide to evacuate a little bit later in the process.”

According to Spooner, many residents appear to have chosen alternative arrangements, staying with family or friends closer to home rather than travelling to Prince George.

The city remains on standby because wildfire conditions can change rapidly and additional evacuation orders could be issued elsewhere in the province.

Prince George was selected as a potential host community largely because hotel space remains available, something that has become increasingly difficult to find across much of the central Interior as wildfire activity intensifies.

Spooner said the city is well positioned to respond if larger numbers of evacuees begin arriving.

Prince George has previously served as a major reception centre during significant wildfire seasons, including the record-breaking 2017 wildfire season when thousands of people sought refuge in the city.

Officials say emergency planning has evolved significantly since then.

The city now has dedicated emergency management staff and refined procedures designed to handle everything from smaller-scale evacuations to major emergency events involving thousands of people.

While Prince George waits for evacuees, concern remains focused on the situation around 70 Mile House, where the Bear Lake wildfire continues to threaten communities.

Thompson-Nicola Regional District Electoral Area E Director Jim Smith said most residents have complied with the evacuation order, but a handful have decided to remain behind.

“I don’t have a complete, accurate answer, but I believe it’s probably somewhere between six and 12 residences,” Smith said.

The decision to stay has sparked debate in the region.

Smith acknowledged that many people feel a deep attachment to their homes and properties, but emphasized that evacuation orders are issued based on expert advice and public safety considerations.

“My advice would be to listen to the order and to go,” said Smith. “There have been lots of cases in Canada where people have perished in fires because they’ve misjudged them, so you have to trust the experts.”

Smith said officials are particularly concerned about weather conditions that could drive the fire northward. Strong southerly winds have been forecast for the area, creating the potential for continued fire growth and challenging conditions for firefighters.

Emergency officials continue to monitor fire behavior closely before determining when it will be safe for evacuees to return home.

Despite those warnings, some residents say they are staying because they believe they can safely monitor and protect their properties.

Among them is Brenda Nickson, co-owner of The Sugar Shack in 70 Mile House.

Nickson and her husband have remained at their property throughout the evacuation order, saying they have prepared extensively for the possibility of wildfire reaching their home and business.

The couple has pumps, sprinklers, generators, hoses and heavy equipment on site and believes they can help protect their property if conditions worsen.

At the same time, Nickson says there are limits.

“We’re not going to put our lives in jeopardy,” she said. “If push came to shove, we would leave for sure, but our whole life is here and we decided we were going to stay and do what we could to protect ourselves and our property.”

Nickson estimates more residents may have stayed behind than official counts suggest, with several families remaining in the area despite the order.

She said those who have stayed understand the risks and are relying primarily on themselves rather than expecting emergency crews to rescue them if conditions deteriorate.

Nickson also pushed back against concerns that fear of looting is motivating residents to remain.

According to her, there is a much larger emergency response presence in the area than there was during the devastating 2017 wildfire season, helping provide reassurance to residents who have chosen to stay.

She described a strong sense of community among those who remain, with neighbours looking out for one another while monitoring wildfire activity.

For emergency officials, however, the message remains clear: evacuation orders are issued to protect lives and should be taken seriously.

As wildfire crews continue their work around 70 Mile House, Prince George remains ready should residents decide to leave or if new evacuation orders force others from their homes.

For now, the city’s reception centre stands prepared, waiting for evacuees who may still choose to head north as wildfire conditions continue to unfold across the province.

by Nick Dube

Prince George awaits evacuees

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