Officials in northeastern British Columbia are pleased with a study funded by the province to assess landslide risks in the Old Fort community located just south of Fort St. John. This initiative follows three separate landslides in the same area since 2018, which have led to repeated evacuations and the destruction of a home and other essential infrastructure.
Brad Sperling, the board chair of the Peace River Regional District, expressed concerns about the frequent landslides and emphasized the overdue need for a comprehensive study. Representing the Old Fort area as an electoral director for the past 12 years, Sperling highlighted the importance of understanding the underlying ground risks and hazards to ensure the safety of residents who have endured significant challenges.
In late April, a massive 400-meter wide landslide on Old Fort Road, approximately five kilometers south of Fort St. John, resulted in evacuation orders or alerts for multiple properties in the community with around 150 residents. Evacuation orders were lifted a month later following initial geological assessments that indicated no immediate risk of another landslide.
The province has initiated a second phase of the study, focusing on a detailed evaluation of future risks, which commenced recently. Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Kelly Greene underscored the significance of this work in comprehensively assessing landslide risks to safeguard the community’s residents, visitors, and property.
Old Fort has faced previous landslide threats, including incidents in 2018 and 2020 that necessitated evacuations. A provincial transportation study in 2021 explored various options, such as building bridges, to realign Old Fort Road away from historical landslide debris and reduce future risks. The study concluded that maintaining the existing route was the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly option.
Construction of a new $1.1-million permanent road through the latest landslide debris began in late August and is anticipated to take eight weeks to complete. Despite the challenges posed by the recent slides, residents have shown resilience, with some even defying evacuation orders in April.
Sperling emphasized the importance of providing residents with clarity about the future given the uncertainties they face. Residents, who have endured a decade of disruption due to noise, traffic, and dust from the nearby Site C construction, deserve to know the risks they may encounter in the future.
Efforts to enhance safety and infrastructure in Old Fort continue as the community strives to recover and mitigate the impacts of landslides that have affected their daily lives.