PlaceDossier / BC places

Northern Rockies

A regional municipality, outside any regional district. 3,947 people lived here in 2021, down 18.8% from 2016, on 86,302 km² of land.

BC place · regional municipality

How Northern Rockies compares with BC's other towns of 2,000 to 10,000 people

  1. Wildfire: the most land burned since 1996 of BC's 53 towns of 2,000 to 10,000 people. 29% of its land, compared with 0% in a typical town that size.typical
  2. Evacuations: an order to leave, in May 2024 (fire). The Province's record starts in April 2017. One of 12 of BC's 53 towns of 2,000 to 10,000 people with one.
  3. Homes: the 3rd most affordable of BC's 53 towns of 2,000 to 10,000 people. The typical home costs 2.0 years of a typical household's income, compared with 6.0 years in a typical town that size. Property tax: the 2nd highest rate of BC's 53 towns of 2,000 to 10,000 people. $11.18 a year for each $1,000 of assessed value, compared with $6.26 in a typical town that size.typicaltypical
  4. Winters: the coldest of BC's 42 towns of 2,000 to 10,000 people with a climate station nearby. −20.3 °C on average in January, compared with −2.1 °C in a typical town that size.typical

Typical for its size No scheduled buses, 5 licensed child care providers, 1 fire hall and a 24-hour emergency department.

How we compare

Each figure is set against BC's places of the same kind: cities of 50,000 or more, towns of 10,000 to 50,000, towns of 2,000 to 10,000, villages and towns under 2,000, or rural electoral areas. A figure stands out when it's among the top tenth of its kind at the end that matters to a buyer and clearly off the typical one, the middle place of that kind. Where fewer than 15 places of its kind have the figure, it's set against all BC places with it. A figure only counts when its source speaks for the place: a climate or air station within 15 km and 300 m of its ground, the place's own police service, at least 1,000 people for census figures and 25 homes for internet. A point that stands out has an ochre bar on its left, its section's stamp is filled ochre, and a dot in the bar at the top of the page marks that section; "Typical for its size" is a plain outline and "Nothing on record" a dotted one. In each strip a tick is one place, the tall tick the typical one, the dot this place, and the end that matters on the right. Facts that matter at any size (an evacuation order, emergency care far away, little mobile coverage) are said whatever the size, and mark a section as standing out only when they too are in the top tenth of its kind. A section is marked typical only where a figure in it is set against the typical one and none sits far from it (outside the middle half of its kind, or clearly off the typical one), and "nothing on record" only where it shows nothing.

Northern Rockies outlined. Zoom in to see its lots; tap one for its report.

Hazards Stands out

Wildfire: the most land burned since 1996 of BC's 53 towns of 2,000 to 10,000 people. 29% of its land, compared with 0% in a typical town that size.

typical
  • Evacuations: an order to leave, in May 2024 (fire). The Province's record starts in April 2017. One of 12 of BC's 53 towns of 2,000 to 10,000 people with one.
Burned by wildfire since 1996
29% typical town that size: 0%
Years with a mapped wildfire since 1917
77, the latest 2025
Evacuation events since April 2017
1 with an order to leave, 1 with alerts only; the latest May 2024, an order
Radon: homes tested at or above the guideline in its health region
10% in Northeast (BC: 7.9%)
More on hazards

Its land, ranked in BC

HereRank in BC
In the farmland reserve (ALR)0.5%243rd of 267 (tied)
Burned by wildfire since 199629%17th of 215
Years with a mapped wildfire since 191777most recent 2025
Under mineral, placer or coal titles0.4%206th of 219 (tied)
Land area86,302 km²

Shares of the land area, worked out from the Province's maps. Fire perimeters before the 1950s are less complete. A title or a past fire somewhere in the area says nothing about a given lot: a property report checks the parcel itself.

Large fires (1,000 ha or more) since 1990

Since 1990, 93 wildfires of 1,000 ha or more burned in Northern Rockies, together 2,469,350 ha, 29% of its land (ground that burned twice counts once). The most here was the Nogah Creek wildfire in 2024, 508,473 ha.

2025: 471,781 ha here2024: 589,592 ha here2023: 1,235,415 ha here2019: 5,602 ha here2018: 30,357 ha here2017: 4,655 ha here2015: 82,488 ha here2014: 1,290 ha here2013: 1,030 ha here2012: 57,298 ha here2009: 23,764 ha here2008: 1,329 ha here2005: 6,981 ha here2004: 39,860 ha here2003: 27,417 ha here1996: 7,869 ha here1994: 2,783 ha here1992: 5,442 ha here1990: 17,392 ha here19902000201020202026
  1. 2025Unnamed fire G90216280,461 ha in all · 99% of it here278,932 ha here
  2. 2025Summit Lake wildfire80,842 ha in all80,842 ha here
  3. 2025Unnamed fire G9038268,320 ha in BC68,320 ha here
  4. 2025Unnamed fire G9042512,445 ha in all12,445 ha here
  5. 2025Unnamed fire G803207,584 ha in all7,584 ha here
  6. 2025Unnamed fire G904754,717 ha in BC4,717 ha here
  7. 2025Unnamed fire G804024,138 ha in all4,138 ha here
  8. 2025Unnamed fire G904633,468 ha in all3,468 ha here
  9. 2025Unnamed fire G902203,428 ha in all3,428 ha here
  10. 2025Unnamed fire G903912,095 ha in all2,095 ha here
And 83 more
  1. 2025Unnamed fire G803961,885 ha in all1,885 ha here
  2. 2025Unnamed fire G904001,763 ha in all1,762 ha here
  3. 2025Unnamed fire G804261,661 ha in all1,661 ha here
  4. 2025Unnamed fire G804763,104 ha in all · 16% of it here504 ha here
  5. 2024Nogah Creek wildfire508,473 ha in all508,473 ha here
  6. 2024Sikanni Park wildfire25,380 ha in all · 92% of it here23,388 ha here
  7. 2024Unnamed fire G9039918,597 ha in all18,597 ha here
  8. 2024Parker Lake wildfire12,348 ha in all12,348 ha here
  9. 2024Snowfall Creek wildfire11,156 ha in all11,156 ha here
  10. 2024Unnamed fire G9068610,755 ha in all10,755 ha here
  11. 2024Unnamed fire G922533,571 ha in all3,571 ha here
  12. 2024Unnamed fire G909921,304 ha in all1,304 ha here
  13. 2023Unnamed fire G90288287,958 ha in BC287,958 ha here
  14. 2023Ekwan Tower wildfire275,175 ha in all275,072 ha here
  15. 2023Unnamed fire G90628173,792 ha in BC173,792 ha here
  16. 2023Unnamed fire G90207170,937 ha in all170,937 ha here
  17. 2023Nogah Creek wildfire74,686 ha in all74,686 ha here
  18. 2023Unnamed fire G9294071,003 ha in all71,003 ha here
  19. 2023Ittsi Creek wildfire37,794 ha in all37,794 ha here
  20. 2023Patry Creek wildfire33,426 ha in all33,426 ha here
  21. 2023Unnamed fire G9153432,257 ha in all32,257 ha here
  22. 2023Unnamed fire G9027342,839 ha in all · 61% of it here26,295 ha here
  23. 2023Unnamed fire G9029221,056 ha in all · 88% of it here18,630 ha here
  24. 2023Unnamed fire G9095612,107 ha in all12,107 ha here
  25. 2023Unnamed fire G914946,996 ha in all6,996 ha here
  26. 2023Unnamed fire G909495,278 ha in all5,278 ha here
  27. 2023Unnamed fire G910133,782 ha in all3,782 ha here
  28. 2023Unnamed fire G932913,056 ha in all3,056 ha here
  29. 2023Hwf-130 wildfire2,346 ha in BC2,346 ha here
  30. 2019Beaver River wildfire5,602 ha in all5,602 ha here
  31. 2018Unnamed fire G9208417,897 ha in all17,897 ha here
  32. 2018Unnamed fire G903054,781 ha in all4,781 ha here
  33. 2018Unnamed fire G907633,588 ha in all3,588 ha here
  34. 2018Unnamed fire G914721,398 ha in BC1,398 ha here
  35. 2018Unnamed fire G819161,277 ha in all1,277 ha here
  36. 2018Unnamed fire G905441,213 ha in all1,213 ha here
  37. 2018Unnamed fire R92033100,779 ha in all · under 1% of it here203 ha here
  38. 2017Unnamed fire G915344,655 ha in all4,655 ha here
  39. 2015Dunedin River wildfire18,071 ha in all18,071 ha here
  40. 2015Unnamed fire G9026313,499 ha in all13,499 ha here
  41. 2015Unnamed fire G9037010,827 ha in all10,827 ha here
  42. 2015Big Beaver Creek wildfire7,804 ha in all7,804 ha here
  43. 2015Unnamed fire G902676,254 ha in all6,251 ha here
  44. 2015Petitot River wildfire4,176 ha in all4,176 ha here
  45. 2015Akue Creek wildfire3,994 ha in all3,994 ha here
  46. 2015Unnamed fire G903233,152 ha in all3,152 ha here
  47. 2015Mount Bigfoot wildfire2,421 ha in all2,421 ha here
  48. 2015Unnamed fire G903262,396 ha in all2,396 ha here
  49. 2015Unnamed fire G902582,205 ha in all2,205 ha here
  50. 2015Klua Lakes wildfire1,967 ha in all1,967 ha here
  51. 2015Unnamed fire G902871,918 ha in all1,918 ha here
  52. 2015Unnamed fire G903091,399 ha in all1,399 ha here
  53. 2015Unnamed fire G902611,280 ha in all1,280 ha here
  54. 2015Unnamed fire G902691,051 ha in all1,051 ha here
  55. 2015Wadin Creek wildfire49,545 ha in all · under 1% of it here77 ha here
  56. 2014Unnamed fire G902321,290 ha in all1,290 ha here
  57. 2013Unnamed fire G901191,030 ha in all1,030 ha here
  58. 2012White Spruce Creek wildfire24,852 ha in all24,852 ha here
  59. 2012The Pesh wildfire12,196 ha in all12,196 ha here
  60. 2012Eskai wildfire5,832 ha in all5,832 ha here
  61. 2012Capot-Blanc Complex wildfire3,968 ha in all3,968 ha here
  62. 2012Unnamed fire G902402,541 ha in all2,541 ha here
  63. 2012Beckman Creek wildfire2,499 ha in all2,499 ha here
  64. 2012SW Kotcho Lake wildfire2,481 ha in all2,481 ha here
  65. 2012Crow River wildfire1,827 ha in all1,827 ha here
  66. 2012Unnamed fire G902571,102 ha in all1,102 ha here
  67. 2009Unnamed fire G9008423,764 ha in all23,764 ha here
  68. 2008Unnamed fire G901931,329 ha in all1,329 ha here
  69. 2005Unnamed fire G901515,778 ha in all5,778 ha here
  70. 2005Unnamed fire G901671,203 ha in all1,203 ha here
  71. 2004Unnamed fire G9023222,907 ha in BC22,907 ha here
  72. 2004Unnamed fire G9035212,583 ha in all12,583 ha here
  73. 2004Unnamed fire G903102,648 ha in all2,648 ha here
  74. 2004Unnamed fire G904411,722 ha in BC1,722 ha here
  75. 2003Unnamed fire G9023926,874 ha in all26,874 ha here
  76. 2003Unnamed fire G900831,151 ha in all · 47% of it here543 ha here
  77. 1996Unnamed fire G900437,869 ha in all7,869 ha here
  78. 1994Unnamed fire K100402,783 ha in all2,783 ha here
  79. 1992Unnamed fire G900123,847 ha in all3,847 ha here
  80. 1992Unnamed fire G900101,595 ha in all1,595 ha here
  81. 1990Unnamed fire G9002812,247 ha in all12,247 ha here
  82. 1990Unnamed fire G900663,741 ha in all3,741 ha here
  83. 1990Unnamed fire G900691,404 ha in all1,404 ha here

Smaller mapped fires since 2016

Since 2016, the BC Wildfire Service mapped 216 smaller fires (under 1,000 ha) that reached Northern Rockies, newest first. This season's are as mapped by November 9, 2026.

  1. 2026Unnamed fire G8112378 ha in all78 ha here
  2. 2026Unnamed fire G9107767 ha in all67 ha here
  3. 2026Unnamed fire G906343.5 ha in all3.5 ha here
  4. 2026Unnamed fire G908492.1 ha in all2.1 ha here
  5. 2026Unnamed fire G902851.4 ha in all1.4 ha here
  6. 2025Unnamed fire G90401773 ha in all773 ha here
  7. 2025Unnamed fire G90881239 ha in all239 ha here
  8. 2025Unnamed fire G90407163 ha in all163 ha here
And 208 more
  1. 2025Unnamed fire G80403152 ha in all152 ha here
  2. 2025Unnamed fire G90507138 ha in all138 ha here
  3. 2025Unnamed fire G90428136 ha in all136 ha here
  4. 2025Unnamed fire G90461103 ha in all103 ha here
  5. 2025Unnamed fire G9040677 ha in all77 ha here
  6. 2025Unnamed fire G9035168 ha in all68 ha here
  7. 2025Unnamed fire G9044657 ha in all57 ha here
  8. 2025Unnamed fire G8042749 ha in all49 ha here
  9. 2025Unnamed fire G9030438 ha in all38 ha here
  10. 2025Unnamed fire G8042930 ha in all30 ha here
  11. 2025Unnamed fire G9039728 ha in all28 ha here
  12. 2025Unnamed fire G9030317 ha in all17 ha here
  13. 2025Unnamed fire G9038617 ha in all17 ha here
  14. 2025Unnamed fire G907159.9 ha in all9.9 ha here
  15. 2025Unnamed fire G821829 ha in all9 ha here
  16. 2025Unnamed fire G907148.9 ha in all8.9 ha here
  17. 2025Unnamed fire G804308.6 ha in all8.6 ha here
  18. 2025Unnamed fire G903247.4 ha in all7.4 ha here
  19. 2025Unnamed fire G902437.2 ha in all7.2 ha here
  20. 2025Unnamed fire G905694.9 ha in all4.9 ha here
  21. 2025Unnamed fire G903223.6 ha in all3.6 ha here
  22. 2025Unnamed fire G903023.3 ha in all3.3 ha here
  23. 2025Unnamed fire G902523.2 ha in all3.2 ha here
  24. 2025Unnamed fire G903992.2 ha in all2.2 ha here
  25. 2025Unnamed fire G909472 ha in all2 ha here
  26. 2025Unnamed fire G907751.8 ha in all1.8 ha here
  27. 2025Unnamed fire G903381.6 ha in all1.6 ha here
  28. 2025Unnamed fire G903601.4 ha in all1.4 ha here
  29. 2025Unnamed fire G904200.2 ha in all0.2 ha here
  30. 2024Unnamed fire G90765514 ha in all514 ha here
  31. 2024Unnamed fire G90994458 ha in all458 ha here
  32. 2024Unnamed fire G91790405 ha in all405 ha here
  33. 2024Unnamed fire G91714354 ha in all354 ha here
  34. 2024Unnamed fire G90777307 ha in all307 ha here
  35. 2024Unnamed fire G91031291 ha in all291 ha here
  36. 2024Unnamed fire G91033118 ha in all118 ha here
  37. 2024Unnamed fire G9068387 ha in all87 ha here
  38. 2024Unnamed fire G9242486 ha in all86 ha here
  39. 2024Unnamed fire G9110442 ha in all42 ha here
  40. 2024Unnamed fire G9023037 ha in all37 ha here
  41. 2024Unnamed fire G9197732 ha in all32 ha here
  42. 2024Unnamed fire G9101823 ha in all23 ha here
  43. 2024Unnamed fire G907348.4 ha in all8.4 ha here
  44. 2024Unnamed fire G905487.8 ha in all7.8 ha here
  45. 2024Unnamed fire G908493.6 ha in all3.6 ha here
  46. 2024Unnamed fire G923073.6 ha in all3.6 ha here
  47. 2024Unnamed fire G923093.4 ha in all3.4 ha here
  48. 2024Unnamed fire G906372.9 ha in all2.9 ha here
  49. 2024Unnamed fire G909172 ha in all2 ha here
  50. 2024Unnamed fire G907131.7 ha in all1.7 ha here
  51. 2024Unnamed fire G923101.4 ha in all1.4 ha here
  52. 2023Unnamed fire G91467888 ha in all888 ha here
  53. 2023Unnamed fire G90776805 ha in all805 ha here
  54. 2023Unnamed fire G83130674 ha in all674 ha here
  55. 2023Unnamed fire G82494187 ha in all187 ha here
  56. 2023Unnamed fire G91355150 ha in all150 ha here
  57. 2023Unnamed fire G90713112 ha in all112 ha here
  58. 2023Kledo Creek wildfire56 ha in all56 ha here
  59. 2023Unnamed fire G8173052 ha in all52 ha here
  60. 2023Unnamed fire G9272943 ha in all43 ha here
  61. 2023Unnamed fire G9172241 ha in all41 ha here
  62. 2023Unnamed fire G9257239 ha in all39 ha here
  63. 2023Unnamed fire G9084133 ha in all33 ha here
  64. 2023Unnamed fire G9102116 ha in all16 ha here
  65. 2023Liard River wildfire14 ha in all14 ha here
  66. 2023Unnamed fire G9098014 ha in all14 ha here
  67. 2023Unnamed fire G9310212 ha in all12 ha here
  68. 2023Unnamed fire G9310311 ha in all11 ha here
  69. 2023Unnamed fire G932406.5 ha in all6.5 ha here
  70. 2023Unnamed fire G913595.8 ha in all5.8 ha here
  71. 2023Unnamed fire G817204 ha in all4 ha here
  72. 2023Unnamed fire G925362.5 ha in all2.5 ha here
  73. 2023Unnamed fire G911332.1 ha in all2.1 ha here
  74. 2023Unnamed fire G902591.3 ha in all1.3 ha here
  75. 2023Unnamed fire G920930.3 ha in all0.3 ha here
  76. 2022Hutchison Creek … wildfire945 ha in all945 ha here
  77. 2022Unnamed fire G90274416 ha in all416 ha here
  78. 2022Sandy Creek wildfire103 ha in all103 ha here
  79. 2022Unnamed fire G9038159 ha in all59 ha here
  80. 2022Klua Creek wildfire37 ha in all37 ha here
  81. 2022Unnamed fire G9271321 ha in all21 ha here
  82. 2022Unnamed fire G9051721 ha in all21 ha here
  83. 2022Unnamed fire G9039316 ha in all16 ha here
  84. 2022Falk Creek wildfire15 ha in all15 ha here
  85. 2022Horseshoe Mountain wildfire12 ha in all12 ha here
  86. 2022Figure 8 wildfire6.2 ha in all6.2 ha here
  87. 2022Unnamed fire G905945.6 ha in all5.6 ha here
  88. 2022Unnamed fire G903194.8 ha in all4.8 ha here
  89. 2022Unnamed fire G904803.9 ha in all3.9 ha here
  90. 2022Unnamed fire G905092.5 ha in all2.5 ha here
  91. 2022Unnamed fire G804632.4 ha in all2.4 ha here
  92. 2022Unnamed fire G903172 ha in all2 ha here
  93. 2022Unnamed fire G906921.9 ha in all1.9 ha here
  94. 2022Unnamed fire G905981.4 ha in all1.4 ha here
  95. 2021Unnamed fire G92297542 ha in all542 ha here
  96. 2021Unnamed fire G91588436 ha in all · 74% of it here322 ha here
  97. 2021Thetlaandon Creek wildfire166 ha in all166 ha here
  98. 2021Unnamed fire G91065100 ha in all100 ha here
  99. 2021Unnamed fire G9230479 ha in all79 ha here
  100. 2021Unnamed fire G9102477 ha in all77 ha here
  101. 2021Midwinter Creekv wildfire56 ha in all56 ha here
  102. 2021Unnamed fire G9106719 ha in all19 ha here
  103. 2021Unnamed fire G9104218 ha in all18 ha here
  104. 2021Unnamed fire G9098317 ha in all17 ha here
  105. 2021Unnamed fire G9107715 ha in all15 ha here
  106. 2021Unnamed fire G9230512 ha in all12 ha here
  107. 2021Unnamed fire G9098610 ha in all10 ha here
  108. 2021Unnamed fire G910358.3 ha in all8.3 ha here
  109. 2021Unnamed fire G927575.8 ha in all5.8 ha here
  110. 2021Unnamed fire G914364.4 ha in all4.4 ha here
  111. 2021Unnamed fire G807931.2 ha in all1.2 ha here
  112. 2020Unnamed fire G903634.6 ha in all4.6 ha here
  113. 2020Unnamed fire G904263.1 ha in all3.1 ha here
  114. 2019Fire wildfire627 ha in all627 ha here
  115. 2019Unnamed fire G9028328 ha in all28 ha here
  116. 2019Unnamed fire G9078228 ha in all28 ha here
  117. 2019Unnamed fire G8025116 ha in all16 ha here
  118. 2019Unnamed fire G9064014 ha in all14 ha here
  119. 2019Unnamed fire G907195.5 ha in all5.5 ha here
  120. 2019Unnamed fire G806164.9 ha in all4.9 ha here
  121. 2019Unnamed fire G901894.1 ha in all4.1 ha here
  122. 2019Unnamed fire G909824.1 ha in all4.1 ha here
  123. 2019Unnamed fire G910312.3 ha in all2.3 ha here
  124. 2019Unnamed fire G909981.5 ha in all1.5 ha here
  125. 2019Komie Creek wildfire1.2 ha in all1.2 ha here
  126. 2019Unnamed fire G802480.8 ha in all0.8 ha here
  127. 2019Unnamed fire G902910.4 ha in all0.4 ha here
  128. 2018Unnamed fire G92334872 ha in all872 ha here
  129. 2018Unnamed fire G90301543 ha in all543 ha here
  130. 2018Unnamed fire G92313374 ha in all374 ha here
  131. 2018Unnamed fire G90358262 ha in all262 ha here
  132. 2018Unnamed fire G90866261 ha in all261 ha here
  133. 2018Unnamed fire G90793163 ha in all163 ha here
  134. 2018Unnamed fire G90764137 ha in all137 ha here
  135. 2018Unnamed fire G91428114 ha in all114 ha here
  136. 2018Unnamed fire G9055974 ha in all74 ha here
  137. 2018Unnamed fire G9053470 ha in all70 ha here
  138. 2018Unnamed fire G9084362 ha in all62 ha here
  139. 2018Unnamed fire G9150954 ha in all54 ha here
  140. 2018Unnamed fire G9083036 ha in all36 ha here
  141. 2018Unnamed fire G9029135 ha in all35 ha here
  142. 2018Unnamed fire G9146931 ha in all31 ha here
  143. 2018Unnamed fire G9088526 ha in all26 ha here
  144. 2018Unnamed fire G9087326 ha in all26 ha here
  145. 2018Unnamed fire G9284625 ha in all25 ha here
  146. 2018Unnamed fire G9262923 ha in all23 ha here
  147. 2018Unnamed fire G9147021 ha in all21 ha here
  148. 2018Unnamed fire G9088820 ha in all20 ha here
  149. 2018Unnamed fire G8233220 ha in all20 ha here
  150. 2018Unnamed fire G9199420 ha in all20 ha here
  151. 2018Unnamed fire G9233519 ha in all19 ha here
  152. 2018Unnamed fire G9262418 ha in all18 ha here
  153. 2018Unnamed fire G9035016 ha in all16 ha here
  154. 2018Unnamed fire G9036615 ha in all15 ha here
  155. 2018Unnamed fire G9225115 ha in all15 ha here
  156. 2018Unnamed fire G9048613 ha in all13 ha here
  157. 2018Unnamed fire G9104713 ha in all13 ha here
  158. 2018Unnamed fire G9077911 ha in all11 ha here
  159. 2018Unnamed fire G9147710 ha in all10 ha here
  160. 2018Unnamed fire G924029.8 ha in all9.8 ha here
  161. 2018Unnamed fire G902889.5 ha in all9.5 ha here
  162. 2018Unnamed fire G908906 ha in all6 ha here
  163. 2018Unnamed fire G923366 ha in all6 ha here
  164. 2018Unnamed fire G928085.7 ha in all5.7 ha here
  165. 2018Unnamed fire G901525.6 ha in all5.6 ha here
  166. 2018Unnamed fire G904853.7 ha in all3.7 ha here
  167. 2018Unnamed fire G923532.5 ha in all2.5 ha here
  168. 2018Unnamed fire G908762.3 ha in all2.3 ha here
  169. 2018Unnamed fire G915692.2 ha in all2.2 ha here
  170. 2018Unnamed fire G908671.5 ha in all1.5 ha here
  171. 2018Unnamed fire G914671.3 ha in all1.3 ha here
  172. 2017Unnamed fire G92008301 ha in all301 ha here
  173. 2017Unnamed fire G92057173 ha in all173 ha here
  174. 2017Unnamed fire G92012135 ha in all135 ha here
  175. 2017Unnamed fire G9200938 ha in all38 ha here
  176. 2017Unnamed fire G9021023 ha in all23 ha here
  177. 2017Unnamed fire G9020814 ha in all14 ha here
  178. 2017Unnamed fire G9215112 ha in all12 ha here
  179. 2017Unnamed fire G902077.2 ha in all7.2 ha here
  180. 2017Unnamed fire G902015.6 ha in all5.6 ha here
  181. 2017Unnamed fire G902095.6 ha in all5.6 ha here
  182. 2017Unnamed fire G901122.8 ha in all2.8 ha here
  183. 2017Unnamed fire G903802.8 ha in all2.8 ha here
  184. 2017Unnamed fire G902021.8 ha in all1.8 ha here
  185. 2017Unnamed fire G902681.6 ha in all1.6 ha here
  186. 2017Unnamed fire G919331.3 ha in all1.3 ha here
  187. 2017Unnamed fire G901980.9 ha in all0.9 ha here
  188. 2017Unnamed fire G922680.1 ha in all0.1 ha here
  189. 2016Unnamed fire G90369393 ha in all393 ha here
  190. 2016Unnamed fire G9030761 ha in all61 ha here
  191. 2016Unnamed fire G9000630 ha in all30 ha here
  192. 2016Unnamed fire G9024422 ha in all22 ha here
  193. 2016Unnamed fire G9029721 ha in all21 ha here
  194. 2016Unnamed fire G9030521 ha in all21 ha here
  195. 2016Unnamed fire G9035220 ha in all20 ha here
  196. 2016Unnamed fire G9009518 ha in all · 85% of it here15 ha here
  197. 2016Unnamed fire G8030117 ha in all17 ha here
  198. 2016Unnamed fire G8026614 ha in all14 ha here
  199. 2016Unnamed fire G9036714 ha in all14 ha here
  200. 2016Unnamed fire G9037014 ha in all14 ha here
  201. 2016Unnamed fire G902728.3 ha in all8.3 ha here
  202. 2016Unnamed fire G902674.5 ha in all4.5 ha here
  203. 2016Unnamed fire G903023.5 ha in all3.5 ha here
  204. 2016Unnamed fire G903183.2 ha in all3.2 ha here
  205. 2016Unnamed fire G903242.3 ha in all2.3 ha here
  206. 2016Unnamed fire G902691.7 ha in all1.7 ha here
  207. 2016Unnamed fire G903111.6 ha in all1.6 ha here
  208. 2016Unnamed fire G902981.3 ha in all1.3 ha here

Small fires that were never mapped as a perimeter aren't listed: the BC Wildfire Service maps an outline for only some of the fires it records. Past fire is history, not a forecast. The chance of fire on a lot today depends on what the record doesn't show: the forest and grass around it, the slope, what has been thinned or burned since, and how far it is from a fire hall. Every BC season and large fire since 1990.

Sources: BC Wildfire Fire Perimeters – Historical, BC Wildfire Service; BC Wildfire Fire Perimeters – Current, BC Wildfire Service; BC Wildfire Fire Incident Locations – Historical, BC Wildfire Service; BC Wildfire Fire Locations – Current, BC Wildfire Service (Open Government Licence – British Columbia), as published on November 10, 2026; 2021 census subdivision boundaries, Statistics Canada (Statistics Canada Open Licence). Outlines simplified and places measured by PlaceDossier.

How the land burned

On the Province's ecosystem map, Northern Rockies's land is 78% NDT3 (burned in large fires about every 100 to 150 years), 16% NDT2 (burned in large fires about every 200 years) and 6% NDT5 (alpine tundra and subalpine parkland). Its main biogeoclimatic zones are Boreal White and Black Spruce (77%) and Spruce–Willow–Birch (16%). This is how the land burned before fires were put out, not its fire risk today. A report names the type over a lot. Every place's natural fire regime.

Source: BEC Map (biogeoclimatic zones and natural disturbance types), Province of BC (Open Government Licence – British Columbia), read 2026-10-12; areas worked out on the census boundaries.

Evacuations since April 2017

Since April 2017, the Province's record holds 2 wildfire events with an evacuation order or alert over Northern Rockies, 1 with an order. The latest order: Nogah Creek, Patry Creek and Parker Lake Wildfire, May 2024.

  1. 2024Nogah Creek, Patry Creek and Parker Lake WildfireMay 2024 · evacuation order · Northern Rockies Regional Municipality2,283 homes
  2. 2023Tooga Creek/Kotcho Lake WildfireAugust 2023 · evacuation alert · Northern Rockies Regional Municipality2 homes

Listed when an order or alert area covered at least 5% of the land in Northern Rockies, or lay mostly in Northern Rockies and held at least 5% as many homes as the 2021 census counted there. An order means people were told to leave; an alert, to be ready to leave. Homes are the record's own counts, area by area, shown where the areas lie mostly in Northern Rockies. The Province's record starts in April 2017: earlier evacuations aren't in it. A lot's report checks every order and alert over the lot itself, and any in effect now.

Sources: Historical Orders and Alerts, Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (Open Government Licence – British Columbia), as published on November 2, 2026; 2021 census subdivision boundaries and dwelling counts, Statistics Canada (Statistics Canada Open Licence). Each order and alert area placed in the municipalities and electoral areas it covers by us.

Counted lot by lot: Parker Lake fire, Fort Nelson, May 2024.

Evacuations for floods, landslides and other hazards since April 2017

None of the flood, landslide or other non-fire evacuation orders or alerts in the Province's record since April 2017 covered 5% or more of the land or homes in Northern Rockies.

Sources: Historical Orders and Alerts, Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (Open Government Licence – British Columbia), as published on November 2, 2026; 2021 census subdivision boundaries and dwelling counts, Statistics Canada (Statistics Canada Open Licence). Each order and alert area placed in the municipalities and electoral areas it covers by us.

390 landslides are recorded inside Northern Rockies in the Preliminary Canadian Landslide Database (version 14.0), including 107 earth slides, 54 rock rotational slides and 39 rock slides. The latest with a date of its own: an earth slide, 1996 (listed under “Halden Creek”). The database lists slides known to have happened, mapped from inventories, satellite images and lidar. It isn't a hazard map, and some parts of BC are mapped in far more detail than others. Landslides near a given lot.

The Province lists 7 dams in Northern Rockies, none classed High or above for the harm a failure would do downstream. The class rates what a failure would do, not how likely one is; a report names the dams within 1 km of a lot. Dams in BC, by place.

22 Water Survey of Canada gauges in Northern Rockies have 5 or more years of yearly peak flows: Toad River above Nonda Creek peaked highest at 762 m³/s in 1975 (63 years on record), Liard River at Lower Crossing peaked highest at 9,060 m³/s in 2012 (50 years on record) and Muskwa River near Fort Nelson peaked highest at 4,620 m³/s in 1975 (47 years on record), among others. 1 set its record in the last 10 years. A gauge's record is the river where it stands, not a flood line; a report gives the nearest gauge on a river by the lot. River gauges in BC, by place.

Radon

In the Northeast health region, 20 of the 200 homes tested (10%) in Health Canada's 2009–2011 survey were at or above the 200 Bq/m³ guideline; across BC, 143 of 1,817 (7.9%).

The survey tested about a hundred volunteer homes per health region, with one long-term test each. That gives a rough regional picture: it isn't a map, and a region where few or none tested high can still have homes above the guideline. The only way to know is to test the home: radon and buying a home in BC.

Source: Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Concentrations in Homes (2009–2011), Health Canada (Open Government Licence – Canada); Health Service Delivery Area Boundaries, Province of BC (Open Government Licence – British Columbia).

Check one lot: has it burned? · is it on a floodplain map? · is it behind a dike? · is there a dam nearby? · landslides nearby? · contaminated sites nearby? · radon? · how much is too steep?

Source: Agricultural Land Reserve polygons, Agricultural Land Commission (Open Government Licence – British Columbia); Fire perimeters – historical, BC Wildfire Service (Open Government Licence – British Columbia); Mineral, placer and coal tenures, Mineral Titles Branch (Open Government Licence – British Columbia); Preliminary Canadian Landslide Database, version 14.0 (May 2026), Brideau et al. (CC BY 4.0); 2021 census subdivision boundaries, Statistics Canada (Statistics Canada Open Licence); Municipalities – Legally Defined Administrative Areas of BC (names and status), Province of BC (Open Government Licence – British Columbia).

Cost to own Stands out

Property tax: the 2nd highest rate of BC's 53 towns of 2,000 to 10,000 people. $11.18 a year for each $1,000 of assessed value, compared with $6.26 in a typical town that size.

typical
  • Homes: the 3rd most affordable of BC's 53 towns of 2,000 to 10,000 people. The typical home costs 2.0 years of a typical household's income, compared with 6.0 years in a typical town that size.typical
Residential property tax rate, 2026
$11.18 a year for each $1,000 of assessed value typical town that size: $6.26
Typical home value against typical household income
2.0 years of income typical town that size: 6.0 years
Median home value (owners' estimate, 2021)
$164,000
Median monthly rent (2021)
$700
Speculation and vacancy tax
doesn't apply here
More on cost to own

Property tax

The 2026 residential property tax rate in Northern Rockies is $11.18 per $1,000 of assessed value, above the middle of BC's 160 municipalities ($6.24): about $11,178 a year on a $1,000,000 home, before the home owner grant. Rank in BC: 10th of 160.

  • Municipal $6.58
  • Regional hospital district $0.06
  • School (set by the Province) $4.26
  • Other $0.27
  • Middle of BC's municipalities $6.24
Where each $1,000 of assessed value goes, 2026; the mark is the middle of BC's municipal rates.
$

On $500,000: about $5,589 a year; on $1,000,000: about $11,178, at 2026 rates, before the home owner grant.

Your bill uses BC Assessment's value for the property, which can differ from its price, and may also include parcel taxes and utility fees (water, sewer, garbage) that aren't rates on value. The home owner grant takes up to $570 off the bill of a home its owner lives in ($770 in the Province's northern and rural area in 2026, and up to $845, or $1,045 there, for seniors, veterans and people with a disability), for homes assessed at $2,075,000 or less in 2026; above that it shrinks by $5 for each $1,000. From 2027 the northern and rural extra ends and the regular grant is $570 everywhere. The owner applies each year, and must pay at least $350 in tax ($100 for the higher grant) after it. Our summary of the Province's page, read 2026-10-04. Confirm with Northern Rockies. How property tax works in BC.

Source: Northern Rockies Regional Municipality's 2026 tax rates bylaw, as compiled by the Province (Local Government Statistics Schedule 702, 2026) (the rates only: facts set in public bylaws, not open data); Home owner grant, Province of BC (summarised in our words, read 2026-10-04).

Northern Rockies is outside the Province's speculation and vacancy tax area, so the tax doesn't apply to a home here. Our summary of the Province's pages, read 2026-10-04. Where the tax applies, and who pays.

The typical home here is the median value owners gave the 2021 census, and the typical household's income is the median for 2020: a home that costs 2.0 years of income took that many years of a typical household's whole income. "Typical" for places its size is the middle of BC's towns of 2,000 to 10,000 people.

New homes permitted

In 2025, building permits in Northern Rockies were issued for at least 1 new home.

New homes permitted each year
  • Houses
  • Row houses
  • Apartments
  • Not broken down (months withheld)
New homesHousesRow housesApartments
2018withheldwithheldwithheldwithheld
2019withheldwithheldwithheldwithheld
2020≥ 1withheldwithheldwithheld
2021withheldwithheldwithheldwithheld
2022≥ 2withheldwithheldwithheld
2023withheldwithheldwithheldwithheld
2024withheldwithheldwithheldwithheld
2025≥ 1withheldwithheldwithheld
2026 (January to July)≥ 24withheldwithheldwithheld

Homes in new residential building permits, counted when the permit is issued: some are never built, and some building needs no permit. Statistics Canada withholds a month's figure for confidentiality or quality, so a year with withheld months reads "at least" (≥ in the table); 2026 runs to July (*). Not every local government reports. For permits on one street, ask the local government.

Source: Building Permits (BPER), BC Stats, adapted from Statistics Canada's Building Permits survey (Open Government Licence – British Columbia), through July 2026.

Land for sale nearby

The 5 nearest listings on AcreScout within 25 km of Fort Nelson's town centre, nearest first.

ListingAsking priceSizePer acreAway
5028 W 51 AvenueFort Nelson, listed 122 days ago$39,900Not given–400 m
4703 48 AvenueFort Nelson, listed 79 days ago$49,9002.2 acres$22,682 an acre500 m
4700 46 AvenueFort Nelson, listed 79 days ago$49,9002.28 acres$21,886 an acre600 m
319 Alaska HighwayFort Nelson, listed 127 days ago$189,00069.4 acres$2,723 an acre800 m
5204 41 StreetFort Nelson, listed 71 days ago$22,9000.16 acres–1.1 km

Distances are straight lines to the listing's pin. Where AcreScout places a listing only roughly, no distance is given, only the place it's near. Per acre is left out under about an acre. Asking prices are what sellers ask, not what land sells for.

Listings: AcreScout, a Buretto site; active listings as of 2026-11-15. Asking prices set by the sellers; not a valuation.

Source: Census of Population 2021, Statistics Canada (Statistics Canada Open Licence).

What you can build Typical for its size

On a lot zoned for a house, the zoning must allow at least a secondary suite or a garden suite (the provincial minimum).

Homes allowed on a house lot (provincial minimum)
a house and a secondary suite or garden suite
Short-term rentals
The Province's principal residence requirement doesn't apply in Northern Rockies (list in force from June 1, 2026).
In the farmland reserve (ALR)
0.5% typical town that size: 5%
More on what you can build

Northern Rockies had 3,947 people in the 2021 census; the Province's 3-to-6-home floor starts above 5,000. So a zone limited to houses must allow at least one secondary suite or detached accessory home (a garden suite or carriage house) next to a house. A floor of 3 or 4 homes applies only on lots inside an urban containment boundary drawn in a regional growth strategy. How many homes you can build on a lot.

The Province's principal residence requirement doesn't apply in Northern Rockies (list in force from June 1, 2026), so the provincial rule doesn't limit short-term rentals to the host's home. Local bylaws, including the zone's own rules, can be stricter. Hosts anywhere in BC register each unit with the provincial registry. Short-term rental rules in BC.

Reports for lots in Northern Rockies can't name the zone: we have no open zoning map for it (see the places covered).

Ask the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality for a lot's zone and what it allows.

The federal boundaries put 6 reserves of Fort Nelson First Nation, Liard First Nation and Prophet River First Nation in or beside Northern Rockies. On reserve land the First Nation decides land use, not the local zoning bylaw; a report says when a lot is on reserve land or within 500 m of it. Reserve land in BC, by place.

Check one lot: is it in the ALR? · is the soil good for farming? · is it in a community watershed?

Source: Agricultural Land Reserve polygons, Agricultural Land Commission (Open Government Licence – British Columbia); 2021 census subdivision boundaries, Statistics Canada (Statistics Canada Open Licence).

Living here

No scheduled buses, 5 licensed child care providers, 1 fire hall and a 24-hour emergency department.

Homes with 50/10 Mbps internet or faster
90% typical town that size: 100%
Homes with LTE mobile coverage
97%
Nearest emergency department open around the clock
Fort Nelson, 500 m in a straight line
Fire halls
1 on the Province's list; the nearest 800 m from Fort Nelson's town centre
Buses
no scheduled buses
Licensed child care
5 (3 group facilities, 2 family homes)
Crime, weighted for how serious it is
no police service of its own in Statistics Canada's figures: those of the Northern Rockies RCMP detachment (rural) are under More
More on living here

Internet

90.2% of homes in Northern Rockies have 50/10 Mbps or faster recorded, wired or fixed wireless, against 97.6% across BC. 9.8% have nothing at 25/5 Mbps or faster.

Share of homes hereBC
50/10 Mbps or faster, wired or fixed wireless90.2%97.6%
50/10 Mbps or faster over a wired line90.2%96.2%
50/10 Mbps or faster over fixed wireless0%87%
Nothing at 25/5 Mbps or faster9.8%1.4%
LTE mobile coverage97.2%99.1%
Homes counted (2021)2,2682,170,255
Rank in BC, homes without 50/10 Mbps110th of 248

This is the service providers report to the federal government (ISED), counted over each area's homes in the 2021 census. It isn't a promise for any address: ask providers whether they serve it and what it costs to connect. Satellite service, which needs only a clear view of the sky, isn't counted. Data released May 2026. What internet can a given lot get?

Source: National Broadband Data (May 2026) and Pseudo-Household Demographic Distribution (2021), Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (Open Government Licence – Canada); 2021 census subdivision boundaries, Statistics Canada (Statistics Canada Open Licence).

Nearest hospital

The nearest hospital on the Province's list (updated 2026-10-01) is Fort Nelson General Hospital, about 500 m in a straight line from Fort Nelson's town centre. Its emergency department's hours on HealthLink BC's list: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Roads are longer than these straight lines, and a small town's emergency department can close for a shift when it's short of staff: the health authority posts these as service changes. In an emergency, call 9-1-1. How far is the nearest hospital from a property?

Source: Hospitals in BC, HealthLinkBC (Open Government Licence – British Columbia); Emergency Rooms in BC, HealthLinkBC (Open Government Licence – British Columbia).

Fire protection

Fire protection in Northern Rockies is the municipality's to provide, through its own fire department or one it contracts: ask it which hall responds. The Province's list (updated 2026-09-11) has one fire hall in Northern Rockies: Fort Nelson Fire Department. It is about 800 m in a straight line from Fort Nelson's town centre. Home insurers ask the road distance to the hall that responds, which can be far longer than the straight line. How far is the nearest fire hall, and what insurers ask

Source: First Responders (fire halls and ambulance stations), GeoBC (Open Government Licence – British Columbia).

Child care

The Province lists 3 licensed group child care facilities and 2 licensed family child care homes in Northern Rockies. By the ages their operators list, 1 takes children under 36 months, 1 takes children 30 months to 5 years, 1 takes preschool children and 1 takes school-age children. All 5 take part in the fee reduction (CCFRI). Family child care homes are counted but not named or mapped, since they are private homes. Many operators list no ages, and the list holds the licensed facilities the Province funds, so a licensed one without that funding isn't on it. A report on a lot names its nearest group facility and counts those within 1 and 2 km; ask each facility about spaces and its wait list.

Source: Child Care Map Data, Child Care Programs and Services (listed 2026-10-11) (Open Government Licence – British Columbia); placed by us in the 2021 census boundary 2026-10-11. Licensed child care in every BC place.

Crime

The Northern Rockies RCMP detachment (rural) reported a crime severity index of 223 in 2025, above BC's 92.

Crime severity index, 2025223 (BC 92)
Violent / non-violent index341 / 178 (BC 98 / 91)
Break and enter, per 100,000 people, 2025916 (BC 281)
Theft of a vehicle, per 100,000 people, 2025447 (BC 138)
Theft from a vehicle, per 100,000 people, 202585 (BC 441)
Violent crime, per 100,000 people, 20256,728 (BC 1,531)
All Criminal Code offences (not traffic), per 100,000 people, 202517,713 (BC 6,943)

Inferred: the RCMP detachment named for this place. BC's police boundaries aren't open data, and a detachment's figures cover the countryside it polices as well as the town.

The crime severity index weighs each offence by how serious it is (one assault counts for more than several thefts), with Canada in 2006 set at 100. Rates are per 100,000 people living in the police service's area, so places with many visitors, commuters or seasonal homes read high, and in small places a few incidents swing the figures a lot. These are crimes reported to police, not all crime.

Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0063-01, Crime severity index and weighted clearance rates, police services in British Columbia (Statistics Canada Open Licence); Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0184-01, Incident-based crime statistics, by detailed violations, police services in British Columbia (Statistics Canada Open Licence).

Water

204 water-supply wells on record; half are deeper than 54 m, and the median tested yield is 76 L/min.

Water-supply wells on record
204; half deeper than 54 m; median tested yield 76 L/min
Rank in BC for well depth
77th of 245 (tied)
More on water

The Province's monitoring records hold groundwater samples from 11 wells in Northern Rockies, 2007 to 2023, among them 2 of the Province's observation wells. The median passed Health Canada's limit for fluoride (1 well) and manganese (2 wells). A report names the nearest sampled wells within 10 km of a lot. A neighbouring well isn't your water: test your own. What BC's well water tests for, by place.

Mapped aquifers

7 mapped aquifers lie in Northern Rockies, most wells first.

  1. 1Aquifer 1291: Pouce Creek Bedrockfractured sedimentary rock27 wells · low productivity
  2. 2Aquifer 1034: Cridland Creek Bedrockfractured sedimentary rock18 wells · moderate productivity
  3. 3Aquifer 1289: Muskwa River Alluvialunconfined sand and gravel (large river system)5 wells · high productivity
  4. 4Aquifer 1040: Muskwa-Fort Nelson Buried Valleyconfined sand and gravel (glacial)5 wells · high productivity
  5. 5Aquifer 1041: Fort Nelson-River Alluvial Aquiferunconfined sand and gravel (large river system)3 wells · high productivity
  6. 6Aquifer 1288: Muskwa - Fort Nelson Glaciofluvialunconfined sand and gravel (late glacial outwash)3 wells · high productivity
  7. 7Aquifer 1290: Prophet River Alluvial Aquiferunconfined sand and gravel (large river system)0 wells · high productivity

An aquifer is listed for each place that holds at least a twentieth of it, so a sliver of one at the edge can be left out. Wells and productivity are for the whole aquifer, which can reach well beyond Northern Rockies. The province maps aquifers mostly in settled valleys, so a lot outside every outline can still have groundwater. Every mapped aquifer in BC · sampled lakes.

Sampled lakes

5 sampled lakes lie in Northern Rockies, largest first.

  1. 1Muncho Lake15 km²too few readings to judge
  2. 2Klua Lakes14 km²too few readings to judge
  3. 3Barney Lake4 km²too few readings to judge
  4. 4Summit Lake (Middle Muskwa River watershed)29.2 hatoo few readings to judge
  5. 5Andy Bailey Lake25.8 hatoo few readings to judge

A lake is listed for each place that holds at least a twentieth of it or 100 ha of it. Clarity is the median summer Secchi depth; the nutrient class is our reading of Carlson's index from phosphorus or chlorophyll, not a provincial rating. Either is given only for a lake with at least 10 summer readings from open water, spread over at least 3 different years, since 2012. Most lakes have never been sampled, so a lake missing here may simply have no record. Every sampled lake in BC.

Source: Groundwater wells (GWELLS), Province of BC (Open Government Licence – British Columbia); Ground Water Aquifers, Water Protection and Sustainability Branch, Province of BC (Open Government Licence – British Columbia); BC Environmental Monitoring Data System (EnMoDS) results, Province of BC (Open Government Licence – British Columbia); 2021 census subdivision boundaries, Statistics Canada (Statistics Canada Open Licence).

Climate and sun Stands out

Winters: the coldest of BC's 42 towns of 2,000 to 10,000 people with a climate station nearby. −20.3 °C on average in January, compared with −2.1 °C in a typical town that size.

typical
January mean temperature
-20.3 °C* typical town that size: −2.1 °C
July mean temperature
17.3 °C*
Yearly precipitation
458 mm*
Yearly snowfall
193 cm* typical town that size: 99 cm
Days a year over 30 °C
3.2 days* typical town that size: 10
Frost-free period
121 days a year*

Winter sun

About 5 h 50 min of possible direct sun on December 21 at Fort Nelson's town centre, against 6 h on open ground; a lot on a slope or bench can differ by hours: open any lot's report for its own.

On March 21, 11 h 50 min against 12 h; on June 21, 17 h 20 min against 18 h 10 min. Our estimate from the terrain around the point, ground at about 412 m, seen from head height: trees, buildings and cloud aren't counted. On BC's least winter sun ranking (December sun as a share of open ground) it is 301st of 310 (tied). How winter sun is read.

20° up40° up60° upDec 21 · 5 h 50 minMar 21 · 11 h 50 minJun 21 · 17 h 20 minESESSWW
The skyline from Fort Nelson's town centre, from NRCan's elevation model every 5°, and the sun's path on December 21, March 21 and June 21: solid where the sun clears the hills, dotted where they hide it. Angles are drawn true to scale.
More on climate and sun
1991-2020 normalsRank in BC
January mean temperature-20.3 °C*Not ranked*
July mean temperature17.3 °C*Not ranked*
Yearly precipitation458 mm*
Yearly snowfall193 cm*Not ranked*
Frost-free period121 days a year*
Average last spring and first fall frostMay 15 and September 14*
Days with snow on the ground (1 cm or more)179 days a year; 31 days in January*
Lowest temperature recorded, 1991-2020-47.3 °C (1996)Not ranked*
Days a year over 30 °C3.2 days; no days over 35 °C*Not ranked*
Highest temperature recorded, 1991-202034.6 °C (2018)
Wettest day recorded, 1991-202071.4 mm of rain and melted snow, July 4, 2008
Most snow in a day recorded, 1991-202030 cm, April 8, 1999
Deepest snow on the ground recorded, 1991-202096 cm, March 24, 2009
Strongest gust recorded, 1991-202093 km/h, August 1, 2003; gusts of 90 km/h or more on under half a day a year*
Thunderstorm days a year (1991-2020)18 days; hail on 0.6 days
Heating degree days, below 18 °C6,649 a year*
Growing degree days, above 5 °C1,358 a year; 640 above 10 °C*

Normals for 1991-2020 at the Fort Nelson Airport station, about 7 km from the town centre. * Based on at least 25, 20 or 15 of the 30 years, short of the World Meteorological Organization's standard: treat as a rougher guide. The records are single days measured at the station: the most rain, snow and wind it saw in 1991-2020. Each is one event, not what to expect in a year, and the lot can get more or less than the station. Elevation matters a lot in BC: a hillside lot can be much colder and snowier than the station.

Plant hardiness zone: most homes here are in zone 2b (96%), on Natural Resources Canada's 2025 map. Higher numbers are milder winters. What the zones mean.

Solar panels: a south-facing panel tilted at the latitude would make about 980 kWh a year for each kW of panels at Fort Nelson's town centre, about 22 of it in December (estimated from Natural Resources Canada's 1998-2022 sunshine map). An open sky is assumed: the hills, trees and buildings around a lot cut it, and a report sets the lot's own skyline beside it. What solar panels would make in BC.

By the 2050s (2041-2070) at the town centre, climate models project about 5 more days over 30 °C a year, a longest frost-free run about 25 days longer and about the same share of winter's precipitation falling as snow, each against the same models' 1971-2000 (model projections under SSP2-4.5, a middle path for emissions). The models work on a grid of about 9 by 6 km, which averages valley floors with the slopes around them, so their own figures can sit well off a station's normals and aren't comparable with them. Their own figures there: about 7 days over 30 °C a year in 2041-2070 (range 4 to 16 across the models), against about 2 days in 1971-2000; a longest frost-free run of about 145 days (range 135 to 160), against about 120; and about 100% of winter's precipitation falling as snow (range 98% to 100%), against about 100%. The ranges run from the 10th to the 90th percentile of the models' 2041-2070 figures. The 2050s across BC.

Light at night within 1 km of Fort Nelson's town centre: like a city's busy streets such as downtown Kelowna or Kamloops (our reading), and brighter than about 96% of BC's homes (2024 satellite record). A lot away from the centre can be much darker. How dark are BC's nights?

Lightning: around Fort Nelson's town centre, a cloud-to-ground flash within 10 km on about 9 days a year and 0.27 flashes per km² a year, more than at 3 in 4 BC homes (the Canadian Lightning Detection Network, 1998-2025 average, on a grid of about 11 by 7 km).

Source: Canadian Climate Normals 1991-2020 and 1981-2010, Environment and Climate Change Canada (Open Government Licence – Canada); Plant hardiness zones of Canada (2025 map), Natural Resources Canada (Open Government Licence – Canada); Medium Resolution Digital Elevation Model (MRDEM-30), Natural Resources Canada (Open Government Licence – Canada); Solar position: General Solar Position Calculations (NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory; Spencer, 1971) (Public domain); Daily average solar irradiance on tilted surfaces for all of Canada (1998-2022), Natural Resources Canada (Open Government Licence – Canada); Photovoltaic Potential and Solar Resource Maps of Canada (performance ratio), Natural Resources Canada (Open Government Licence – Canada); Statistically downscaled climate indices from CMIP6 global climate models (CanDCS-M6), Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium, via the Canadian Centre for Climate Services (Open Government Licence – Canada); VIIRS Nighttime Lights, 2024 annual composite, Earth Observation Group, Payne Institute for Public Policy, Colorado School of Mines (Elvidge et al. 2021, Remote Sensing 13(5):922), via Hengl, OpenGeoHub, Zenodo doi 10.5281/zenodo.7750174 (CC BY 4.0); Canadian Lightning Detection Network cloud-to-ground flashes (CanCPLDv1), Environment and Climate Change Canada (Open Government Licence – Canada).

Land use around

4 major projects in assessment or approved in or near Northern Rockies on the Environmental Assessment Office's register; 0.4% of its land is under mineral, placer or coal titles.

Major projects in assessment or approved, in or within 5 km
4: Cabin Gas Plant; Fort Nelson Electrical Generation; Maxhamish Pipeline; and more
Under mineral, placer or coal titles
0.4%
Who holds them
Largest company holders: Cronin Exploration Inc. (36% of the land under title), Liard Strategic Minerals Inc. (22%), Fireside Minerals Ltd. (8.0%); private individuals hold titles over 33% of it, on the Province's record as of October 29, 2026.
More on land use around

Major projects in Northern Rockies

The Environmental Assessment Office's register places 4 major projects in assessment or approved in Northern Rockies or within 5 km of it: Cabin Gas Plant (natural gas processing plant, certificate issued Jan 28, 2010, operating); Fort Nelson Electrical Generation (power plant, certificate issued Sep 25, 1998, operating); Maxhamish Pipeline (transmission pipeline, certificate issued Dec 7, 1999, operating); and 1 more.

ProjectDecisionPhaseWhere
Cabin Gas PlantNatural Gas Processing PlantsCertificate Issued, Jan 28, 2010Post Decision – OperationIn Northern Rockies
Fort Nelson Electrical GenerationPower PlantsCertificate Issued, Sep 25, 1998Post Decision – OperationIn Northern Rockies
Maxhamish PipelineTransmission PipelinesCertificate Issued, Dec 7, 1999Post Decision – OperationIn Northern Rockies
Northern Rockies Secure LandfillLocal Government Solid Waste Management FacilitiesCertificate Issued, Mar 31, 2009Post Decision – OperationIn Northern Rockies
Not assessed or closed: 2 projects found to need no assessment, withdrawn, terminated, refused, expired or not reviewable
  • Debolt Saline Water (groundwater extraction, reviewed Jun 1, 2011: no assessment needed, paused on care and maintenance; in Northern Rockies)
  • Fortune Creek Gas (natural gas processing plant, certificate expired 2018; in Northern Rockies)

Major projects are those large enough to need a provincial environmental assessment: mines, power plants, pipelines, transmission lines, highways, ports and resorts. The register places each at one point; a mine, pipeline or line can reach well past it, so check the project's own page for its maps. A property report lists those within 10 km of a lot; every project in BC by place.

Source: Environmental Assessment Office project points (EPIC), Province of BC, as of 2026-11-02 (Open Government Licence – British Columbia); 2021 census subdivision boundaries, Statistics Canada (Statistics Canada Open Licence).

The BC Energy Regulator maps about 197 km of active oil and gas pipeline in Northern Rockies, permitted to 11 companies, among them Canadian Natural Resources Limited, Harvest Operations Corp. and NTE Energy Canada Ltd. About 1.7 km more is on recent permits it lists as new; about 1,121 km is abandoned or deactivated, often still in the ground. A report lists any pipeline within 200 m of a lot, and flags one within 30 m, where digging needs the permit holder's agreement. Pipelines in BC, by place.

The Province lists 108 active waste discharge authorizations in Northern Rockies; the commonest kinds: oil and gas well site or facility (26), hazardous waste storage or treatment (25) and sewage treatment or discharge site (18). Of these, 47 may discharge to air, 58 effluent to water or land and 4 refuse to land. A report lists any within 2 km of a lot, and flags one whose point is on it. Permitted discharges in BC, by place.

The Province maps 4 open gravel pits and quarries in Northern Rockies, among them CFW Patry Pit, Elleh Quarry and Fireside Barite; and one open mineral exploration permit area. A report lists the permits within 2 km of a lot, names an open pit or quarry within 500 m and flags one whose permit area takes in the lot. Gravel pits and mine permits in BC, by place.

On ParcelMap BC, the land in Northern Rockies is under 1% private, under 1% Crown land with a parcel drawn (under 1% with no title); no parcel is mapped over 100%, likely most of it untitled Crown land, with lakes and road allowances. A report says who owns the land along a lot's line. Crown land next to a property, and every place's land by owner.

Northern Rockies lies in wildlife management units 7-55 (21%), 7-56 (18%), 7-51 (14%), 7-49 (12%), 7-53 (12%), 7-54 (9%), 7-50 (6%): the Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis sets seasons and closed areas by unit. Inside the municipality, its own bylaw can also ban firing a gun. Hunting and shooting on your own property.

BC Parks maps 30 parks and protected areas (Dune Za Keyih Park (also called Frog-Gataga Park), a provincial park; Ekwan Lake Protected Area; Fort Nelson River Ecological Reserve; Goguka Creek Protected Area; and 26 more) reaching into Northern Rockies, over 8% of its land. Recreation Sites and Trails BC lists 10 sites there. A report names the nearest park and recreation site within 25 km of a lot. Parks and recreation sites in BC, by place.

DND lists 2 former military sites where unexploded explosive ordnance (UXO) may lie that we place in Northern Rockies by their names (our reading): 2 closed, among them Fort Nelson - Clarke Lake and Fort Nelson- Number 3 Staging Unit. DND publishes no map of them; ask DND before digging near one. UXO sites in BC, by place.

Check one lot: is there a mineral claim? · power lines nearby? · pipelines nearby? · a gravel pit nearby? · a landfill or plant nearby? · logging planned nearby? · cattle on open range? · is there a trapline? · can I hunt on it? · a park nearby? · Crown land next door?

Source: Mineral, placer and coal tenures, Mineral Titles Branch (Open Government Licence – British Columbia); 2021 census subdivision boundaries, Statistics Canada (Statistics Canada Open Licence); Municipalities – Legally Defined Administrative Areas of BC (names and status), Province of BC (Open Government Licence – British Columbia).

People

3,947 people in 2021, down 18.8% from 2016; the median age is 39.6.

HereBC
Population, 20213,9475,000,879
Change since 2016-18.8%+7.6%
Median age39.642.8
Under 1519.9%14.3%
65 and over12.8%20.3%
Median household income (2020)$84,000$85,000
Homes owned by the people living in them68.7%66.8%
Single-detached houses57.5%42.4%
Movable dwellings (mobile homes and the like)26.0%2.5%
Built before 19614.7%12.5%
Needing major repairs9.7%5.8%
Median home value (owners' estimate)$164,000$785,000
Median monthly rent$700$1,370
Worked from home6.5%22.6%
Unemployment rate9.3%8.4%

Bars: the dark bar is this place, the red mark is BC.

Who lives here

HereBC
Indigenous identity23.5%5.9%
Immigrants7.6%29.0%
Visible minority8.2%34.4%
No religion or a secular outlook59.5%52.1%

Census figures, shown for context like the others. We don't rank or score places on these.

More on people

Census figures are from 2021; the next census results start in 2027. Area boundaries are Statistics Canada's census subdivisions, which follow municipal and electoral area lines.

Source: Census of Population 2021, Statistics Canada (Statistics Canada Open Licence).