Courtesy of Alberta Wildfire:
There are eight wildfires in the High Level Forest Area. Of these fires, three are classified as out of control (OC), one is being held (BH) and four are under control (UC). Firefighters responded to four new wildfires yesterday. Of these fires, one is under control (UC) and three were extinguished. Please see the updates below regarding the Paskwa fire and the Long Lake fire. To see a map of the wildfires in the High Level Forest Area and across the province please click here.
Wildfires of interest;
HWF058 | This fire is located approximately 80 km southwest of the Town of High Level and approximately 23 km northwest of the of Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement boundary marker, east of the Chinchaga River. This fire is classified as out of control (OC) at 3,079 hectares. There are 25 firefighters, 1 helicopter and airtankers are available as needed. Yesterday the fire saw growth towards the east and southeast due to the west winds. In addition, the winds shifted yesterday evening coming from the north, therefore there fire saw growth to the south as well. There is no threat to any communities at this time.
Today the forecast is calling for a temperature of 26, a relative humidity of 20 percent and winds southeast at 15 km/h. These conditions are expected to challenge firefighters control lines they established on the north and northwest side protecting critical infrastructure.
THE LONG LAKE FIRE | HWF036 | JUNE 8, 2023 AS OF 12:00 PM
The Long Lake fire (HWF036) was detected on May 3, 2023. This fire is classified as Out of Control (OC) with a last recorded size of 152,559 hectares. The fire has seen milder conditions due to localized rain. This has allowed firefighters to work directly against the fire edge to build containment lines and put out hot spots.
Aircraft is working on hot areas along Baseline Road and north of Baseline Road. Putting out hot spots as they arise. Crews are patrolling and are using hand ignition to burn out unburnt areas to further contain the area.
Recent weather conditions have seen reduced fire activity along the power easement and gas plant area. Crews have been working with dozers along the fire edge from Winter Road to the power line easement.
The fire is active west of the Town of Rainbow Lake moving towards the British Columbia border. The Incident Management Team (IMT) at Rainbow Lake are in daily contact with the IMT at Fort Nelson. Crews are monitoring the fire by air and bucketing priority hot spots.
The northeast guard protecting the community of Chateh continues to hold with limited active fire along this edge. We continue to build containment lines with dozers along Silvertip Road to the gas plant. Cenovus have been working with the Incident Management Team to determine a safe return to work plan.
Please be aware that there is still active fire burning in the area. Residents are reminded not to enter the fire area due to large number of firefighters, and equipment working. Burnt trees continue to fall which are dangerous.
Incident Management Teams from Canada, America and Australia and a large number of helicopters are currently working at the Incident Command Post located at the Town of Rainbow Lake airport to support this fire.
There are currently 196 personnel supporting the Long Lake Fire. Including wildland and structural firefighters, incident management staff and heavy equipment operators. There are also 10 helicopters and 19 dozers , 2 excavators, 3 water trucks and 8 supporting plant.
Weather Forecast | Long Lake Fire
Today’s forecast is as follow, a temperature of 26 degrees, a relative humidity of 20 percent, and winds are southeast 15 km/h.
THE PASKWA FIRE | HWF030 | JUNE 8, 2023 AS OF 12:00 PM
The Paskwa fire was detected on May 2, 2023. It extends along the south side of the Peace River from the community of Fox Lake into Wood Buffalo National Park and is approximately 8 km south of the community of Garden River. This wildfire is 93,311 hectares in size. This fire is classified as Out of Control (OC).
The top priorities for managing the Paskwa Fire are full extinguishment of fire in Fox Lake, protecting Garden River, and working toward securing the fire perimeter to prevent significant fire spread.
Wildfire activity did pick-up yesterday due to the very high winds and the hotspots in the area did begin to smoke more than before but bucket support from helicopters and ground crews were able to action and maintain control in the area of Fox Lake. Yesterday, crews were working to extinguish hotspots and remove danger trees along Ribbonleg Road and will continue as they expand their work outwards to other areas in Fox Lake.
Work continues along the entire north-northeast perimeter to remove remaining forest fuels and extinguish hot spots, keeping the fire south of the Peace River. Yesterday, fire crews started near 5th Meridian and will continue east, working along the oxbow to extinguish hot spots within the fire perimeter. Helicopters were also bucketing in the area. The fireguard is a priority to prevent fire spread north across the Peace River and to protect the community of Garden River.
Helicopters continue bucketing along the southeast perimeter, and today ground crews will continue with fire suppression in this area. Once this work is completed the crews will move upwards to the northeast flank of the wildfire.
Firefighters will work to extinguish hotspots from Little Red River moving to Muskeg Creek. The area will continue to be monitored for activity using heat scans from helicopter. Scanning is being completed in stages today and into the weekend for hotspots in and around the community of Fox Lake.
Work continues in Fox Lake to extinguish 75m (250 ft) perimeters around structures and the removal of danger trees. Heavy equipment is establishing guard lines around larger areas where there is still potential for fire spread to contain the fire while crews work to extinguish these hotspots.
The high-volume water system, water lines, and sprinkler systems on structures are in place in the community of Garden River and structural firefighters will be available as needed. These are proactive measures to ensure the community is prepared should the fires move closer to Garden River.
There are currently 105 personnel supporting the Paskwa Fire response consisting of wildland and structural firefighters, incident management staff, and Paskwa Fire Base support staff. There are 12 helicopters and 10 pieces of heavy equipment dedicated to the Paskwa fire.
Weather Forecast | Paskwa Fire
Today the forecast is as follows, a temperature of 26 degrees, a relative humidity of 25 percent, with winds northeast 10-15 km/h.
Evacuation Information and Alerts
Little Red River Cree Nation has an evacuation order in place for the community of Fox Lake. The community of Garden River remains on an evacuation alert. For information regarding the evacuation, please stay informed by visiting the Little Red River Cree Nation’s Facebook page.
The community of Garden River is under an evacuation alert.
Wood Buffalo National Park Fire Update| Davidson Complex
The fires in the Davidson Lake area are approximately 29,777 hectares combined and located 26 km northeast of Garden River.
Three bulldozers and one excavator started to create a fire guard on the boundary of Wood Buffalo National Park and made great progress. They will finish the guard this morning and begin work along the old road to Peace Point to access the location where they will construct a second containment line.
Fire specialists were hopeful for an opportunity to begin ignition work yesterday to attempt to hold Fire 14 at Trident Creek, but wind shifts created smokier conditions, making it too difficult to continue. They will look for more ignition windows in the coming days.
Fire growth was primarily wind driven yesterday, with the most action seen on the northern flank of the fire. Fire personnel observed a lot of smoke yesterday on Fire 14, so Garden River may experience smoky conditions today.
Crews continued to install structure protection on cabins and other infrastructure in the area, primarily on structures pointed out to fire personnel by the community at Tuesday morning’s meeting. Crews also continued to maintain sprinkler systems already in place.
The Davidson Lake Fires have not seen any significant rainfall and extreme dry conditions will continue today.
This information has been provided by the Wood Buffalo National Park, Fire Information Officer. For more information regarding fires burning within the Wood Buffalo National Park, please click here.
