Emergency News

Emergency Support Services (ESS)

Given the ongoing uncertainty related to land movement in Old Fort, the Province is extending ESS supports to residents who choose to remain out of the community while geotechnical assessments are underway.

Emergency Support Service renewals for Old Fort residents will be available on Thursday, June 11 between 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Pomeroy Sports Centre (second floor, East lobby) 9324 96 Street, Fort St. John BC.

Emergency Support Services (ESS)

Given the ongoing uncertainty related to land movement in Old Fort, the Province is extending ESS supports to residents who choose to remain out of the community while geotechnical assessments are underway.

Emergency Support Service renewals for Old Fort residents will be available on Thursday, June 4 between 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Pomeroy Sports Centre (second floor, East lobby) 9324 96 Street, Fort St. John BC.

The Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness issued a Ministerial Order directing the Peace River Regional District to conduct a point-in-time geotechnical assessment of the slopes above the community. This assessment will provide technical information on current slope conditions. It is not a long-term monitoring program.

To support the assessment, orthoimagery (geometrically corrected aerial photographs) will be captured, and airborne LiDAR scanning will be conducted.

Flight Information

• When: Tuesday, June 2, 2026 (weather permitting, rescheduled from Monday June 1)
• Expect helicopter activity over the community.
• Flight plans have been filed for the Class E airspace above Old Fort.
• Drone flights are not authorized by NAV CANADA during this time.

Given the ongoing uncertainty related to land movement in Old Fort, the Province is extending ESS supports to residents who choose to remain out of the community while geotechnical assessments are underway.

Emergency Support Service renewals for Old Fort residents will be available on Thursday, May 28 between 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Pomeroy Sports Centre (second floor, East lobby) 9324 96 Street, Fort St. John BC.

ESS supports are intended for residents who are displaced.

EMCR has indicated that if a resident chooses to return to their home, they are no longer considered displaced and are therefore not eligible for ESS.

Any continued receipt or application for ESS after returning home would be considered fraudulent.

The Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness issued a Ministerial Order directing the PRRD to conduct a point-in-time geotechnical assessment of the slopes. This assessment will provide technical information on current slope conditions but is not a long-term monitoring program.

Given the ongoing uncertainty related to land movement in Old Fort, the Province is extending Emergency Support Services to residents who choose to remain out of the community while geotechnical assessments are underway, under the following conditions: Emergency Support Services (ESS) are intended for residents who are displaced.

• EMCR has indicated that if a resident chooses to return to their home, they are no longer considered displaced and are therefore not eligible for ESS.
• Any continued receipt or application for ESS after returning home would be considered fraudulent. 

• Pomeroy Sport Centre (east lobby, second floor), between:
• Saturday, May 23, between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
• Supports will be issued for 6 days, with renewals, if necessary, on Friday, May 29.

Residents must attend on Saturday to renew or restart their ESS support. Renewals cannot be completed before or after this date.

For assistance, please contact the PRRD Info Line at 250-219-5210.

Issued on May 21, 2026, at 1200h (12:00 p.m.)

Official notice 

The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) is happy to share that the Old Fort Landslide Evacuation Order #1 has been cancelled as of May 21, 2026, at 1200h (12:00 p.m.).

• This means residents and service providers are permitted to return to the area.

As Ministry of Transportation and Transit (MOTT) has completed construction of a temporary road access surface across the landslide and has re-opened Old Fort Road as of 12:00 p.m., May 21, the community isolation of Old Fort has ended.

Evacuation Alert #2 has been issued in place of Evacuation Order #1 as a precautionary measure due to the temporary nature of the current access road surface.

Issued on May 21, 2026, at 1200h (12:00 p.m.)

Official notice

The Peace River Regional District has issued an Evacuation Alert for the following areas:

• For all areas east of, but not including, 7711 Old Fort Road

Evacuation Alert #2 has been issued in place of Evacuation Order #1 as a precautionary measure due to the temporary nature of the current access road surface.

• This means residents should maintain awareness of the road condition and be prepared to respond to instructions should a future evacuation become necessary.

This alert is in place as a precautionary measure until MOTT can establish a permanent access road surface across the landslide area in the coming months.

The Ministry of Transportation and Transit reports that significant progress was made over the long weekend on construction of the temporary access road. Baring any unforeseen complications, Old Fort Road is anticipated to reopen to vehicle traffic later this week, a welcome step forward for residents who have been separated from their homes for the past month.

Emergency Support Services (ESS) supports will be extended for an additional three days. Only residents who are in the Evacuation Order area are eligible for ESS assistance.

ESS Renewal Required – Wednesday, May 20

To continue receiving ESS supports, residents must renew their ESS file in person:

• Pomeroy Sport Centre (east lobby, second floor), between:
• 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., or,
• 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Residents must attend on Wednesday to renew their ESS support. Renewals cannot be completed before or after this date.

A state of local emergency has been extended for Electoral Area C in the Peace River Regional District as a result of the imminent threat to people due to the Old Fort landslide. The state of local emergency will remain in effect for 14 days or until cancelled by the Peace River Regional District.   

View the individual Declaration for Electoral Area ‘C’.