This First Nation in B.C. was ordered to leave in 2023 due to fires. 1 year later, it's happened again

Members of the Doig River First Nation remain out of their homes Tuesdaydue to a wildfire almost one year after another nearby wildfire forced them to leave.

The First Nation, whose reserve is located around 40 kilometresnortheast of Fort St. John, B.C.,has a population of around 335 people, accordingto its website, with the 2021 census listing 85 people as living on the reserve itself.

In an evacuation orderissued Monday, the nation says the fire was burningclose to the community, with flames spreading totrees and foliage.

The fire, which is burning over an area of six square kilometres as of 6 p.m. PT Tuesday, was listed as out of control by the B.C. Wildfire Service. It is suspected to have been caused by human activity, a broad category that includes all fires not sparked by lightning.

The evacuationorder comes almost exactly one yearafter a similar order was issued due to a wildfire in the community, which is located in a part of the province that has been particularly affected by ongoing drought conditions.

Shona Nelson, band manager for Doig River First Nation, said that the last year had been particularly bad for the community when it comes to smoke, especially due to the Donnie Creek fire, the province's largest ever wildfire on record.

"But Doig is such a resilient community," she told Sarah Penton, host of CBC's Radio West. "Maybe I'm biased because I work there, but they always come together in these times."

Nelson said the members of her band were not particularly affected by a lack of spacesavailable for evacuees in nearby Fort St. John, which is housing thousands of evacuees fleeing a fire near Fort Nelson.

She says the West Moberly and Blueberry River First Nations generously offered up space for her members to stay.

"Our protective services team is out there ... First Nations' Emergency Services are there as well," she said."So a lot of people on the ground.It was literally a full-court press today."

Late Monday night, the Peace River Regional District alsoissued evacuation ordersrelated to the fire, for an area located just north of the First Nation reserve, which does not contain any listed addresses.

It alsoissued evacuation alerts for 32 properties northwest and northeast of the reserve, and declared a local state of emergency for Electoral Area B, which includes the Doig River First Nation.

The B.C. Wildfire Service said Tuesday thatthey are continuing to fight the blaze, and Nelson says she is hopeful as a small amount of rain has fallenin Fort St. John.

An update from Doig River First Nation on Tuesday morning said the area is seeing an increase in humidity and lower temperatures "which is promising, but we are remaining vigilant."

"Sprinklers have been activated amongst the community for additional structural protection measures. Currently the community is safe, animals are taken care of," the statement says.