An Evacuation Order remains in effect today for Old Fort near Fort St John due to the risk of a landslide, and the Peace River Regional District has declared a local state of emergency.
The small community on the banks of the Peace river had been evacuated to Fort St John last night after road crews had spotted a growing crack in the ground near the site of two previous landslides that struck the area in 2018 and 2020.
The order to evacuate was sent out via emergency alert at 7:25 p.m, with RCMP officers also going door to door in the community to notify residents. The evacuation itself got underway at 9 p.m, and lasted about an hour.
The only road access into Old Fort is no longer considered safe and has now been closed. Authorities say it will remain closed for the time being, with no estimates available on when it may be safe again.
All Properties east of, but not including, 7711 Old Fort Road, are under the evacuation order but the Regional District says the evacuation window along Old Fort Road has now passed.
Supports for evacuees were available at the Pomeroy Sports Centre in Fort St John last night, but anyone who remains in Old Fort at this time is on their own, as the Regional District says support will not be provided to those who did not evacuate.
Those who remain behind in Old Fort have been asked to shelter in place, avoid the landslide area, conserve essential supplies, and await further instruction from authorities
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