With a below-average snow pack raising concerns about drought and wildfire risk across northern B.C., the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako (RDBN) is urging residents to sign up for its Voyent Alert system as a vital tool for staying safe during wildfire season.

The free emergency-notification service is designed to deliver timely alerts directly to cell phones, landlines, or email inboxes. Residents in communities such as 亚洲天堂 Lake, Smithers, Houston, and Vanderhoof can register to receive location-specific updates such as evacuation alerts or emergency notices.

鈥淰oyent Alerts are the only way to have information delivered to you by the RDBN without having to look it up yourself,鈥� the RDBN said in a press release.

While evacuation orders will still be issued door-to-door, evacuation alerts鈥攅arly warnings that an order may soon follow鈥攁re now issued exclusively through Voyent Alert or the RDBN鈥檚 official Facebook page and website.

The shift means residents who are not subscribed risk missing critical early warnings. Signing up gives people time to prepare, whether that means packing important items, confirming plans with family members, or getting ready to evacuate if necessary.

鈥淎s we look at the challenging environmental conditions heading into the 2025 wildfire season, we strongly encourage residents to take a couple of minutes to make sure they know how to access reliable information,鈥� said RDBN Board Chair Mark Parker in a press release. 鈥淩egistering for Bulkley-Nechako Voyent Alert is a crucial first step in that preparedness.鈥�

More information on how to register for Voyent Alert and prepare for emergencies is available on the Regional District鈥檚 website