Northern Health is proactively moving patients from Stuart Lake Hospital in Fort St. James, as part of advance planning related to the Pitka Creek wildfire activity in the area.
Stuart Lake Hospital remains open. The hospital/emergency department remains open for urgent care needs and will continue to run until the status of evacuation alerts or orders significantly changes. Lab and medical imaging services will also continue.
Advance transfer of patients is only being done out of an abundance of caution, as the Evacuation Alert area covers some of Highway 27, south of Fort St. James. Transferring patients with more complex needs in advance, will help simplify any potential evacuation of the hospital, should that become necessary.
Some Stuart Lake Hospital inpatients are being transferred to St. John Hospital in Vanderhoof, and family members are being notified directly.
For the latest details on wildfire evacuation alerts and orders in the Fort St. James area, refer to the Bulkley Nechako Regional District website. Information on wildfires and your health is available at northernhealth.ca > Health Topics > Wildfire information.
