Dene Tha' First Nation hopes to lift evacuation order this week, Chief says
The First Nation issued an evacuation order more than two weeks ago, on May 29, due to the Sousa Creek wildfire, which is burning several kilometres south of the community of Chateh, roughly 660 kilometres northwest of Edmonton.
The fire is still out of control as of Sunday afternoon, according to the Alberta Wildfire dashboard. But Hooka-Nooza told CBC News that the fire's boundary has been held five to eight kilometres from Chateh.
The First Nation developed a re-entry plan, which it had hoped to put into action Sunday, he said. But now the hope is to start returning people to the community Tuesday.
The plan is a phased approach that would strategically allow people home over a three-day period, with people who have respiratory health concerns arriving last, Hooka-Nooza said.
Wildfires forced thousands of Albertans from their homes earlier this month. But communities have recently lifted evacuation orders and alerts amid recent cool temperatures and rainy weather.
"It's been a welcome reprieve from the hot, dry conditions that we have seen previous to this, that did ignite and spread a lot of the fires that are burning across the province," Melissa Story, an Alberta Wildfire provincial information officer, told CBC News Sunday morning.
Alberta Wildfire reported 57 total active wildfires throughout the province as of 4 p.m. MT Sunday, about 40 per cent of which out of control, its dashboard shows.
Most of Alberta has a low or moderate fire danger, the dashboard shows. But some pockets, including the High Level Forest Area in northwestern Alberta, where the Sousa Creek fire is burning, still have an elevated risk.
The area hasn't had rainfall like the other regions, but there is some precipitation in the forecast this week, Story said.
"We'll have to wait and see what actually accumulates from it," she said.
Hooka-Nooza said the weather in other regions allowed more firefighting resources to be sent to the area.
Although the fire danger in most places has dropped, Story noted that there is still a lot of time left before wildfire season ends in October, and said the potential fire risk can change quickly based on the weather conditions.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
44 minutes ago
- Yahoo
N.L. declares regional state of emergency as more communities evacuate
Premier John Hogan announced Saturday the government of Newfoundland and Labrador is declaring a regional state of emergency for Bay de Verde Peninsula, North of Bristol's Hope and Whiteway. "A state of emergency allows our government another tool in our toolbox to help continue our best efforts to keep the community safe," said Hogan. Hogan also announced that the province has received word a fire has started near Gull Island, in Labrador. The Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture later posted on social media that information was incorrect. The fire was instead located at the Grand Lake forest access road system north of Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Despite the state of emergency, Hogan clarified that only communities under evacuation orders are required to evacuate at this time, but other communities are encouraged to prepare to evacuate. He also advised communities to stay tuned and to follow trusted sources of information for updates. There is a population of about 14,000 people in the state of emergency area. WATCH | State of emergency to give government more tools to keep communities safe: Saturday afternoon, the province ordered Burnt Point-Gull Island-Northern Bay to evacuate in addition to the six other communities already evacuated. Small Point–Adam's Cove–Blackhead–Broad Cove, Western Bay, Salmon Cove, Kingston, Perry's Cove, Ochre Pit Cove and Burnt Point-Gull Island-Northern Bay all remain under an evacuation order. The Town of Victoria remains under an evacuation alert. Evacuees from Burnt Point-Gull Island-Northern Bay have been asked to travel north on Route 70 to Carbonear, where they are required to register with the Canadian Red Cross at Carbonear Academy. Alternatively, residents can register by calling 709-729-0921. Extreme weather conditions, Saturday These updates come as St. John's experienced its second warmest August day on record, according to a social media post by Environment Canada meteorologist Rodney Barney. Weather conditions are coupled with winds conducive to extreme wildfire behaviour in Conception Bay North. Ground crews that were working on the Kingston Fire have now been removed due to safety concerns, said Hogan. "I want to ensure Newfoundlanders and Laboradorians, especially those on the Bay de Verde Peninsula, that all hands are on deck," said Hogan. Hogan added that two more water bombers and a bird dog plane will also be coming from Ontario on Sunday to assist fire suppression. That is in addition to Two water bombers and a Bird Dog aircraft from Quebec were expected to arrive at 6:00 p.m. Saturday, said N.L. fire duty officer Mark Lawlor said Saturday. New Brunswick also sent water bombers earlier in the week. The province also said that 20 firefighters from Ontario are also arriving over the weekend. Hogan said out-of-province supports have more than doubled fire suppression efforts. "It also helps to provide a breather for the hard working crew and the volunteers who have been working intensely over the last week," he said. Open fires still reported Fires are also still being set in the province despite a fire ban, according to the premier. He is aware that there is at least one investigation into a potential fine being issues under the stricter fines that were implemented this week. Fines were increased to $50,000 for a first offence on Friday. Subsequent offences are now $75,000 to $150,000 and defaulting on a payment could see up to a year in a jail. He said fires being set is distressing. "I don't know how many times they said it this week…please, please do not start fires or do anything that can lead to fires," said Hogan. "I'm frustrated. I'm annoyed, I'm sad," said Hogan. " I see the volunteers. I mean, they're just pouring their heart and soul into this. … People need to understand that these fines are serious and that the penalties are serious." At least 9 homes destroyed The Town of Small Point–Adam's Cove–Blackhead–Broad Cove confirmed Saturday that the fire in Conception Bay North has grown to 3,001 hectares in size. The town's mayor, Curtis Delaney, confirmed Saturday morning that nine homes have been destroyed by the fire. Delaney says property owners have been notified and couldn't confirm which communities saw property damage. The town says personnel from the Canadian Armed Forces and Ground Search and Rescue are arriving Saturday. Lawlor said Saturday morning that fire crews worked the fire's southern end and around the communities and started building a fire guard throughout the day Friday Good news for Holyrood All evacuation orders issued for Holyrood and Conception Bay South have now been lifted, said the Province in a 4:15 p.m. news release on Saturday. Conception Bay Highway, or Route 60, is now open as well. But residents are still being advised that the fire is still active and that fire crews remain on scene to work on hotspots. The province also wants residents returning to their properties to proceed with caution. If needed, they can seek guidance from town officials and first responders. The province is also alerting residents that their well water may be impacted if the fire occurred close to their property. Free well testing is available through the Department of Environment and Climate Change. The province says there was good progress made toward suppressing the Holyrood fire on Friday. On Saturday morning, Conception Bay South Mayor Darrin Bent said the Holyrood fire remains approximately 22 hectares. He said that there was no open flame on Friday. Lawlor said that fire is now just hotspots and ground crews and a helicopter continue to work on it. A hose line is in place around the entire fire perimeter and staff continuing to dig out and wet hotspots," Hogan said. Crime Stoppers offering reward for info on fires Earlier in the day, Crime Stoppers announced it would be offering a $5,000 award to anyone who offers information that leads to the identification and arrest of anyone responsible for starting fires in Newfoundland and Labrador. At Saturday's update, Hogan said he hopes offering this award, along with the ability to provide information anonymously, will lead to a charge or conviction of anyone responsible for starting fires. "It's very clear that this is an extraordinary circumstance that the province is facing," he said. Across the province, there are about 3,000 individuals and 1,500 households under evacuation orders, said Hogan at a 2:00 p.m. public update. Hogan says the government is working to do what they can to support individuals impacted by the fires. Justice and Public Safety Minister John Haggie also announced that households that have evacuated their primary residences will also receive a $500 payment. The government will be working with the Red Cross to determine a way to distribute these funds, and more details will be available in the coming days, says Haggie. Haggie added the government is consulting with insurance companies and will be developing new policy in the coming days for future fires. Central N.L. fire holds The Martin Lake fire also still burns near the Bay D'Espoir highway, and cabins in the area remain evacuated. That fire increased slightly to about 245 hectares in size, with some growth on the North and South edges, said Hogan. However, fire crews have continued to hold the line, said Hogan at the 6:00 p.m. update on Saturday. Lawlor says an air tanker, helicopter and three planes from New Brunswick, plus ground crews, worked the fire Friday. While there are a lot of hot spots, he says there was minimal growth on Friday. Hogan said there is a fuel break being constructed as well, and that weather conditions will create challenging fire behaviour throughout the day Saturday. Crews also started a fire guard that made good progress, said Lawlor. Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here. Click here to visit our landing page.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
California firefighters fight new flames, prompting evacuations
Another wildfire is burning in California, this one in the mountains north of Los Angeles. The Canyon Fire has already burned through thousands of acres and forced evacuations after igniting Thursday afternoon. CBS News Los Angeles' Nik Zecevic has the latest. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
'Challenging day' for firefighters battling huge blaze in France
Firefighters have contained a massive wildfire in southern France but local officials warned on Sunday that scorching heat and dry conditions could reignite the blaze, as parts of the Mediterranean region face a heatwave. The fire has ravaged a vast area of France's southern Aude department at the peak of the summer tourist season, killing one person and injuring several others. Authorities said that hot, dry winds on Sunday -- similar to those on the day the blaze began -- and a heatwave would make the work of firefighters more difficult. "It's a challenging day, given that we are likely to be on red alert for heatwave from 4:00 pm, which will not make things any easier," said Christian Pouget, prefect of the Aude department. The fire is no longer spreading but is still burning within a 16,000-hectare area, said Christophe Magny on Saturday, chief of the region's firefighter unit, adding it would not be under control until Sunday evening. But the blaze will "not be extinguished for several weeks," he said. Some 1,300 firefighters were mobilised to prevent the blaze from reigniting amid fears that the tramontane wind, which officials said picked up overnight Saturday to Sunday, could fan lingering hot spots. Temperatures this weekend are expected to hit 40 degrees Celsius in some areas, and Monday is forecast to be the "hottest day nationwide," according to national weather service Meteo France. In Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, a 65-year-old woman was found dead on Wednesday in her home, which was devastated by flames. Authorities said one resident suffered serious burns and four others were lightly injured, while 19 firefighters were hurt, including one with a head injury. -'Extremely angry'- Experts say European countries are becoming ever more vulnerable to such disasters due to intensifying summer heatwaves linked to global warming. The blaze -- the largest in at least 50 years -- tore through 16,000 hectares of vegetation, disaster officials said. For livestock farmers in Fontjoncouse, the fire has ravaged grazing land and wiped out much of their flocks, fuelling outrage among those who said they did not have time to evacuate their herds. Emmanuelle Bernier said she was "extremely angry" when she returned to a devastating scene, finding the pen that had housed her herd of goats in ruins, with 17 animals -- some close to giving birth -- lost in the fire. "I will definitely change jobs. This will change my whole life," she said. Bernier's property now holds only a few geese and two sick goats after she had to temporarily entrust her surviving sheep to a local winegrower, as the damage to the farm was so extensive that they could no longer stay. "Everything here was built around the sheep, and seeing the flock leave was incredibly difficult for me," she said. But as she surveyed the scorched landscape, Bernier voiced some hope for the future. "There's still a little life left," she said. skh-ap-ekf/giv
