Area  bounded in red marks  evacuation zone while  mauve area is  now under alert – image courtesy Peace River Regional District

Prince George, B.C. – Wildfires continue to force Peace residents from their homes.

The Peace River Regional District has now issued three evacuation orders. The latest is for the Siphon Creek area north of Fort St. John courtesy of the over 9,000 hectare Siphon Creek fire that has crossed the border into Alberta.

(Siphon Creek  evacuation order and  alert areas)

An evacuation order was issued for the Beatton Airport Road area earlier this morning and another for Mile 80 of the Alaska Highway area last night

That area is currently being threatened by the 10,000 hectare Beatton Airport Road fire and has forced the evacuation of 216 residences. In addition to the area  now  under evacuation order,  an area surrounding it has been put on evacuation alert.

As a result of the evacuations an emergency social service centre has been activated at the North Peace Arena in Fort St. John says Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for the Peace River Regional District Shannon Anderson.

“Currently we’ve had 63 people register at the reception centre so we’re anticipating with this latest order that is going to ramp up.”

He encourages affected residents to go to the regional district’s website for updates on evacuation orders and alerts (http://prrd.bc.ca/) and to be ready.

“If you’re in an alert area start preparing yourself. Sometimes we get little notice so start preparing yourself for the eventuality of someone knocking on your door asking you to leave.”

Anderson says he’s never seen a situation so dire so early in the year.

“I’ve worked for the regional district for about 15 years and I’ve lived in the country most of my life but certainly this is as bad as I’ve ever seen it.”

There are 7 fires of note in the Peace and as 250News reported earlier this morning weather conditions are not helping matters.

Warm conditions are expected to persist through tomorrow with slight precipitation in the forecast for Sunday.

Above seasonal temperatures with no rain is expected next week.