Story by Anna Junker • Yesterday
Smoke seen from wildfire EWF-035, located three kilometres from Shining Bank. The wildfire was detected on May 5, 2023.
Photo supplied by Alberta Wildfire.© Provided by Edmonton Journal
New evacuation orders have been issued for communities west and north of Edmonton as numerous wildfires continue to burn out of control in the province.
At about 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, officials ordered everyone in Peavine Métis Settlement, in Big Lakes County, to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire that is an estimated 65,000 hectares.
The settlement, located approximately 56 kilometres north of High Prairie, has a population of 993 people and borders Gift Lake Métis Settlement.
Evacuees should proceed to the Kapawe’no Centre in Grouard, Alta., or to the Smoky River FCSS in Falher.
Just after 8 p.m. Monday, Yellowhead County issued an evacuation order for the Shining Bank Lake area.
The evacuation area includes north of Township Road 550, east of Highway 32, south of Township Road 570 east to Range Road 130, south to Township Road 561, and west of Range Road 120.
An evacuation order has been issued for the Shining Bank Lake area due to an out-of-control wildfire. Photo supplied.
The wildfire, EWF-035, is about three kilometres east of Shining Bank Lake and is an estimated 5,951 hectares.
A reception centre has been set up for evacuees at the Holiday Inn in Edson, located at 4520 2 Ave.
Yellowhead County said in an update on Facebook that crews continue to work through the night in the Shining Bank and other wildfire areas.
This includes structural protection, and crews will be out with special flags for approximately 100 homes in the county to identify the placement of pumps and structural protection sprinklers.
As of Tuesday morning, there are 87 active wildfires in the province with 24 out of control.
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Forestry, Parks and Tourism Minister Todd Loewen, Colin Blair, executive director of the Alberta Emergency Management Agency, and Christie Tucker, information unit manager with Alberta Wildfire, are scheduled to provide an update on the fire situation at 3 p.m. Tuesday.
Tucker said on Monday that the hot, dry and windy conditions over the weekend posed a challenge for firefighters. A change in the wind was also expected Monday which could lead to unpredictable fire behaviour.
“It could also affect the movement and intensity of wildfires,” she said. “Winds are expected to shift from the southeast to the northwest with gusts of up to 50 kilometres an hour. Combined with the heat and dryness, this will cause dangerous conditions for our firefighters on the ground.”
Meanwhile, some essential workers have been allowed to return to Drayton Valley and Brazeau County.
Select workers for critical infrastructure including hospital, power and gas utilities and retail services such as grocery stores, gas stations, and pharmacies have been allowed entry into the evacuation area, the town said in an update on Facebook .
The workers are under a “shelter-in-place order” to re-establish services in preparation for when it is safe to lift the evacuation order.
The town said “great progress” has been made on getting full containment on the fire guard despite adverse firefighting conditions.
An out-of-control wildfire in the area that is an estimated 4,958 hectares forced the evacuation of the town and parts of Brazeau County on May 4.
New evacuation orders have been issued for communities west and north of Edmonton as numerous wildfires continue to burn out of control in the province.
At about 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, officials ordered everyone in Peavine Métis Settlement, in Big Lakes County, to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire that is an estimated 65,000 hectares.
The settlement, located approximately 56 kilometres north of High Prairie, has a population of 993 people and borders Gift Lake Métis Settlement.
Evacuees should proceed to the Kapawe’no Centre in Grouard, Alta., or to the Smoky River FCSS in Falher.
Just after 8 p.m. Monday, Yellowhead County issued an evacuation order for the Shining Bank Lake area.
The evacuation area includes north of Township Road 550, east of Highway 32, south of Township Road 570 east to Range Road 130, south to Township Road 561, and west of Range Road 120.
An evacuation order has been issued for the Shining Bank Lake area due to an out-of-control wildfire. Photo supplied.
The wildfire, EWF-035, is about three kilometres east of Shining Bank Lake and is an estimated 5,951 hectares.
A reception centre has been set up for evacuees at the Holiday Inn in Edson, located at 4520 2 Ave.
Yellowhead County said in an update on Facebook that crews continue to work through the night in the Shining Bank and other wildfire areas.
This includes structural protection, and crews will be out with special flags for approximately 100 homes in the county to identify the placement of pumps and structural protection sprinklers.
As of Tuesday morning, there are 87 active wildfires in the province with 24 out of control.
Related
Alberta Wildfires: Students displaced for 10 days or more to be exempt from diploma exams
Forestry, Parks and Tourism Minister Todd Loewen, Colin Blair, executive director of the Alberta Emergency Management Agency, and Christie Tucker, information unit manager with Alberta Wildfire, are scheduled to provide an update on the fire situation at 3 p.m. Tuesday.
Tucker said on Monday that the hot, dry and windy conditions over the weekend posed a challenge for firefighters. A change in the wind was also expected Monday which could lead to unpredictable fire behaviour.
“It could also affect the movement and intensity of wildfires,” she said. “Winds are expected to shift from the southeast to the northwest with gusts of up to 50 kilometres an hour. Combined with the heat and dryness, this will cause dangerous conditions for our firefighters on the ground.”
Meanwhile, some essential workers have been allowed to return to Drayton Valley and Brazeau County.
Select workers for critical infrastructure including hospital, power and gas utilities and retail services such as grocery stores, gas stations, and pharmacies have been allowed entry into the evacuation area, the town said in an update on Facebook .
The workers are under a “shelter-in-place order” to re-establish services in preparation for when it is safe to lift the evacuation order.
The town said “great progress” has been made on getting full containment on the fire guard despite adverse firefighting conditions.
An out-of-control wildfire in the area that is an estimated 4,958 hectares forced the evacuation of the town and parts of Brazeau County on May 4.
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