Courtesy: Government of Alberta
Rain will help firefighting in parts of Alberta, but dry northern areas remain at risk. Crews from the U.S. and Australia have arrived to assist.
Current situation (as of 3:30 p.m., June 13)
- There are 51 wildfires currently burning across Alberta in the Forest Protection Area, and three mutual aid fires.
- 22 are classified as out of control, four are being held and 25 are under control.
- There have been three new wildfires in the last 24 hours.
- Since Jan. 1, there have been 551 wildfires in the Forest Protection Area, burning more than 654,000 hectares.
- More than 1,500 Alberta firefighters, contract firefighters and imported firefighters are currently battling wildfires across the province.
- Resources currently being used include heavy equipment, air tankers, helicopters and night vision helicopters.
- Alberta has imported firefighters and aircraft from Yukon, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Australia, Washington State, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Hawaii.
- Information about wildfires can be found by visiting the Alberta Wildfire Status Dashboard.
Orders and alerts
- Updates on evacuation orders are available on www.alberta.ca/emergency.
- On June 12, the County of Grande Prairie No. 1 reduced the area of its evacuation order, allowing some residents to return home. An evacuation order remains in effect for everyone north of Township Road 710 to 740, east of the British Columbia/Alberta border to Range Road 132, and the surrounding areas are under evacuation alert.
- Reception centre at Hythe Community Library, 10013 100 Street.
- On June 12, the Municipal District of Greenview lifted its evacuation order for all areas between the Smoky River and the Forestry Trunk Road, including all access points along the Forestry Trunk Road from kilometre 70 to kilometre 126. Both public and industry access to the area may resume, but the local authority is still encouraging caution when travelling in the area.
- On June 11 and 12, Saddle Hills County expanded its evacuation order, which remains in place as follows:
- Between Highway 49 and Township Road 794, the boundaries are Range Road 94 and Range Road 85.
- North of Township Road 794 up to Township Road 804, the boundaries expand to Range Road 100 to Highway 725.
- The surrounding areas are under evacuation alert.
- On June 11, Yellowhead County lifted its evacuation alert for the Hamlet of Peers and surrounding areas.
- The Dene Tha’ First Nation’s evacuation order for the community of Chateh remains in effect.
- Registration centre at the Bushe River Administrative Office in High Level.
- The Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council’s evacuation orders for Loon Lake 235, Peerless Lake and Trout Lake remain in effect.
- Registration centre at 10451 170 Street, Edmonton.
- The Municipal District of Opportunity No. 17’s evacuation order for Red Earth Creek remains in effect.
- Reception centre at the Baytex Energy Centre, 9810 73 Avenue, Peace River.
- The Municipal District of Opportunity No. 17’s evacuation order for Chipewyan Lake also remains in effect.
- Reception centre at Lakeview Sports Centre, 102 Opportunity Drive, Wabasca-Desmarais.
- Residents of the following additional areas must also remain prepared to evacuate if necessary:
- Hamlet of Marten Beach – Municipal District of Slave River
- Hawk Hills area – County of Northern Lights
- Southern Winefred Lake and Grist Lake – Lac La Biche County
- Town of Swan Hills
- Alberta Emergency Alerts are issued by local authorities and are updated at their discretion. For the best source of information on the status of evacuation orders and alerts, residents are encouraged to follow their local authorities’ preferred communication channels for updates.
- People living in Alberta are encouraged to download the Alberta Emergency Alert mobile app, which immediately pushes all alerts out to subscribers.
Fire bans
- There is currently a fire ban in the Forest Protection Area, which may be adjusted based on local conditions.
- Under this ban, all outdoor wood fires are prohibited, and existing fire permits are suspended.
- Please confirm advisories, restrictions or bans for your area at alberta.ca/fire-bans.
- Fire bans outside the Forest Protection Area are the responsibility of municipalities and counties.
- Everyone has a role to play in wildfire prevention. Follow all fire bans and restrictions to avoid new fire starts. If you see smoke or flames in the forest, call 310-FIRE to report it.
- Applying FireSmart principles to homes and property can mitigate the risk of wildfire damage. Removing flammable materials and vegetation around the property and preventing embers from accumulating can help protect your home from wildfires. To learn more, visit FireSmart Alberta.
Air quality
- Visit Wildfire Smoke Information for air quality monitoring information to make informed decisions about outdoor activities to protect your health. While wildfire smoke is affecting air quality in parts of Alberta, the presence of smoke does not necessarily mean there is fire near your community. Find information about the status of active wildfires and wildfire updates at Alberta Wildfire.
Roads and highways
- Highway 35 from Highway 692 to Highway 695, north of Manning, is has been fully reopened. The highway may close without warning if fire conditions change due to a wildfire in the area.
- Highway 686 between Red Earth Creek and Trout Lake is currently closed due to a wildfire.
- A mandatory evacuation order is in effect from Peerless Lake and Trout Lake.
- Highway 671/Kelly Lake Road at the Alberta/British Columbia border to Range Road 130, southwest of Hythe, is closed due to a wildfire in B.C.
- 511 Alberta is the best source of real time information as conditions change on our highways. Follow on X (formerly known as Twitter) @511alberta.
- Alberta highways that are affected by the wildfires will open and close frequently depending on safety and weather conditions. Be patient and respect the staff at the closure/detour sites – they are there with your safety in mind.
Health
- The Swan Hills Emergency Department is now open. The Swan Hills Healthcare Centre continues to work towards a full reopening.
- For information about wildfire resources, including mental health, visit Wildfire Resources | Alberta Health Services.
Education
- Six schools are currently closed in response to community evacuations:
- Dene Tha’ Community School, in Chateh
- Kateri School, in Trout Lake
- Elizabeth Quintal Schools, in Peerless Lake
- Clarence Jaycox School, in Loon Lake
- Red Earth Creek School, in Red Earth Creek
- Chipewyan Lake School, in Chipewyan Lake
- Swan Hills School, in Swan Hills, reopened on Monday, June 9.
- Parents and guardians should reach out to local school authorities for the most current information on impacts to schooling.
- All impacted school authorities had plans in place to ensure displaced students have access to educational programming.
Child care
- One child-care centre is currently closed in response to community evacuations:
- Opportunity Childcare, in Red Earth Creek
- Licensed child-care programs are required to notify Child Care Connect if they close unexpectedly.
- Parents and guardians should reach out to their child-care provider for information on closures.
Justice and Court Services
- The Chateh and Red Earth Creek courthouses are closed until further notice due to evacuations. Visit the Alberta Courts website for the most current information regarding court scheduling.
