Courtesy of Big Lakes County:
May 24 @ 3 PM WILDFIRE UPDATE
Wildfire Situation
The recent rain is helping firefighters make good progress on all wildfires in the Slave Lake Forest Area. Firefighters are reporting that 30 to 50 millimeters of rain was received on all wildfires and the fire behavior has been reduced to smoldering ground fires.
Grizzly Complex – Grizzly Complex – SWF057 (Grizzly Ridge Wildfire), SWF063 (East Prairie, Gilwood & Banana Belt Wildfire), SWF064 (Blue Lake Wildfire)
SWF-057 is located approximately 26 kilometers south of Kinuso and over 30 kilometers southwest of the Town of Slave Lake. The wildfire is classified as out of control and has burned an estimated 16,728 hectares. Firefighters continue to extinguish hotspots along Highway 33 and the south perimeter of the wildfire.
SWF-063 is located approximately seven kilometers south of High Prairie and sixteen kilometers northwest of Swan Hills. The wildfire is classified as burning out of control and has burned an estimated 123,670 hectares. In the northwestern portion of the wildfire, firefighters continue to extinguish hotspots in the Banana Belt and East Prairie Metis Settlement areas. Heavy equipment has completed 85% of the fire guard on the southeast end of the wildfire. Heavy equipment will continue to build fire guard on the east side of the wildfire heading north.
East Prairie Metis Settlement remains under an evacuation order. Visit https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-emergency-alert.aspx
The Town of Swan Hills has lifted the evacuation order and is now under a four-hour evacuation alert. Visit the Town of Swan Hills Facebook page for more information https://www.facebook.com/TownofSwanHills
SWF-064 is located over 40 kilometers northwest of Swan Hills. The wildfire is classified as out of control and has burned approximately 40,060 hectares. This wildfire has connected to SWF-063 to the north. One heavy equipment group is working on this wildfire and additional heavy equipment groups are expected to be deployed.
There are a total of 110 firefighters, 28-member incident command team and 114 pieces of heavy equipment on the Saulteaux and Grizzly Complexes. Today 21 helicopters will be conducting bucketing operations when visibility will allow them to. There are also 95 military personnel helping with transportation, safety, and various firefighting duties.
SWF068 and PWF038 (Kimiwan/Peavine Complex Wildfire)
SWF068 is located approximately six kilometers northwest of Peavine Metis Settlement. Firefighting operations are being conducted by the Peace River Forest Area. Peavine Metis Settlement remains under an evacuation order. Visit https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-emergency-alert.aspx For more information on this wildfire visit the Peace River Wildfire Update.
Saulteaux Complex – SWF085, SWF086 and SWF087
These wildfires are located approximately five kilometers northwest of Smith and 30 kilometers east of the Town of Slave Lake. SWF086 is still classified as out of control at approximately 4,802 ha. SWF085 approximately 39 ha and SWF087 approximately 1,036 have been classified as being held. Being held means that the fires are not expected to grow beyond established boundaries.
Structure protection equipment is still in place along the Old Smith Highway and wildland firefighters with water trucks continue to work together with local Fire Departments patrolling for and extinguishing ground fires in the area. Heavy equipment continues to build fire guard on the north and west side of SWF068 and firefighters are working along the wildfire perimeter extinguishing ground fires.
The MD of Lesser Slave River has lifted the evacuation order and replaced it with a eight-hour evacuation warning for all residents along Old Smith Highway from Township Road 715 (Smith Bridge) to Range Road 45 (Tollenaars Bridge). An eight-hour evacuation warning has been issued for all residents in Hondo, the hamlet of Smith, and all properties between. It also includes the Fawcett Lake Resort, Broken Paddle and all residents between Fawcett Lake and Smith bridge on township road 715. Mitsue Industrial Park area is also on an eight-hour evacuation notice. Visit for information https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-emergency-alert.aspx
Highway 2 is open. For the latest road conditions visit https://511.alberta.ca/#:Alerts.
