Sturgeon County officials preparing for wildfire evacuees to return home
Social Sharing
Emergency crews responding to the out-of-control wildfire north of Edmonton say they are getting plans ready for residents to return home.
Officials from Sturgeon County said the more than 3,200-hectare blaze located about 70 kilometres north of Edmonton started earlier this month when an all-terrain vehicle caught fire after an apparent electrical or mechanical failure in the Redwater Provincial Recreation Area.
The county says responders are now preparing to let residents return as soon as they deem the situation safe enough to do so. Last week, it was reported that 71 homes were evacuated.
WATCH | What caused the Redwater wildfire?
How a wildfire started near Redwater, Alta.
7 days ago
Duration 1:48
A wildfire has burned close to 400 hectares near Redwater, Alta., since Saturday. Officials say the wildfire started after an all-terrain vehicle caught fire at the Redwater Provincial Recreation Area. As Travis McEwan reports, it's not the only wildfire burning in the province right now.
Until then, residents and the general public are being reminded to stay away from the evacuation area and that anyone caught in that zone could be charged.
Crews from across the province have been called in over the past week to help battle the fire.
In the latest update from the province on Monday, Alberta Wildfire said that the fire is still classified as out-of-control, but firefighters are continuing to make good progress on containing its perimeter.
Alberta Wildfire said the fire showed little activity on Sunday, and higher humidity continues to keep the fire behaviour low.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
19 minutes ago
- Global News
Swan Hills evacuees allowed home as nearby wildfire now being held
Residents of Swan Hills are allowed to go home, 10 days after a wildfire in the area forced the northern Alberta community's 1,300 residents to flee. The Edith Lake wildfire (SWF076) broke out on Sunday, May 25, about seven km north of the town. Residents were ordered to leave the next day and head south to Whitecourt. Alberta Wildfire says the fire is still about eight km north and estimated to be 16,883 hectares in size, but is now being held after being attacked by firefighters, heavy equipment and air supports. View image in full screen The Edith Lake wildfire (SWF076) broke out on Sunday, May 25, 2025 about seven kilometres north of Swan Hills, Alta. Alberta Wildfire The province now says given current weather conditions and resources, the wildfire is not anticipated to grow past existing boundaries. Story continues below advertisement Late Thursday morning, the Town of Swan Hills said residents were allowed to go home but would remain on a four-hour evacuation alert, which means they needed to be ready to flee again if needed. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'Please be aware that the wildfire danger still exists in our region, and you should be prepared in the event the situation worsens. Please be cautious and courteous during the re-enter process,' the town said in a statement on its website, where a re-entry information booklet was posted with information for residents. The town asked residents returning home to follow all directions given by law enforcement, town representatives, and any signage that may be posted. 2:01 Town of Swan Hills evacuates south due to wildfire Services such as the grocery store, restaurants, gas stations, health care centre, pharmacy, banks and other stores have reopened with regular hours, and the town said school will resume on Monday, June 9. Story continues below advertisement The town said the library will resume regular hours next week, but the swimming pool's schedule has yet to be determined. Alberta Wildfire said there is a lot of work ahead still to bring the wildfire under control. 'There are still hot spots within the interior that need to be extinguished. This will take time. The fire has burned deeply into the ground in some areas. Firefighters will continue working with the support of heavy equipment and helicopters to contain and put out remaining active areas,' the province said. Elsewhere in Alberta, there are 50 wildfires burning and 21 of those are out of control. Of all the fires that have broken out in Alberta in 2025, 64 per cent of them were caused by humans, 12 per cent by lightning and the rest are still under investigation.
CTV News
28 minutes ago
- CTV News
Seeding nearing completion across Sask.: crop report
Seeding across Saskatchewan is now 97 per cent complete, according to the latest provincial crop report. The southwest, west-central, and northeast parts of the province are 99 per cent complete, the northwest is 98 per cent complete, while the southeast and east-central regions are 95 per cent complete. Overall, seeding for field peas, spring wheat, durum, barley, triticale, canola, lentils, mustard, flax and oats is complete or nearly complete, while seeding progress for chickpeas, canary seed, soybeans, and perennial forage are the furthest behind. During the reporting period from May 27 to June 2, producers in the province saw minimal rain, with the highest rainfall reported in the Eldon area at 11 millimetres. The Meadow Lake area received eight millimetres, but most areas did not report any rainfall, the province said. While topsoil moisture continued to decline during the reporting period, producers across the province reported mostly good crop emergence with some reports of spotty emergence in later seeded crops, the report said. Of the crops that have emerged, most have been reported in good to fair condition, with minor crop damage reported overall due to dry conditions, wind, and heat. Some producers also reported some minor crop damage from flea beetle, cutworm, grasshopper, and wireworm pressure, as well as wildlife. Producers are now busy with seeding and spraying, rock picking, land rolling, and moving cattle out to pasture, the province said. For the full crop report, click here.
CBC
35 minutes ago
- CBC
Nearly half of northern Alberta community destroyed as wildfires flare
As Albertans forced out by wildfires are being allowed to return home, other evacuees are learning their homes have been lost to the flames. During what has proven to be a devastating wildfire season across western Canada, the remote community of Chipewyan Lake has been among the hardest hit in Alberta in terms of damage to infrastructure. Close to half of the buildings in the small community, nestled in the boreal forests of northern Alberta about 450 kilometres north of Edmonton, have been destroyed. A wildfire swept through the remote community last week, hours after it was evacuated. Questions remain about how and when the community can rebuild, and where its 100 residents will live during the long recovery ahead. Chipewyan Lake lost some of its most critical community buildings, local emergency management officials with Bigstone Cree Nation and the MD of Opportunity No. 17 said Tuesday. Flyovers of the community show 38 structures and nine sheds destroyed. An additional 10 buildings have been damaged, while 38 structures appear intact. Marcel Auger, reeve of the municipal district, said an aerial assessment was completed by forestry officials on June 1. Ground surveys of the damaged buildings began Tuesday "The information is still not 100 per cent accurate until we have a boots-on-the-ground assessment completed," he said. "We will need to complete assessments of the community. We will also need to conduct a major cleanup and rebuild damaged infrastructure." The destroyed buildings include the Bigstone Health Centre, a local church and the community's water treatment plant — as well as homes and sheds. An aerial map released Wednesday shows the flames breached the community's sole entrance road before ripping through the heart of its streets, overlooking the southwest edge of the lake. Red dots, representing complete losses, dot the map. 'Committed to rebuilding' A wall of flames tore through the community on the evening of May 29, temporarily trapping eight firefighters overnight when their dispatch radios failed. The flames flared, consuming buildings and toppling trees, blocking the only road out. The firefighters were forced to take shelter overnight in a local school and fire hall before a rescue crew could cut a path through the downed trees. Andy Alook, chief of Bigstone Cree Nation — which is made up of Chipewyan Lake as well as the communities of Calling Lake and Wabasca — said local government officials are working closely in the wake of the disaster. "Our governments are committed to rebuilding the community of Chipewyan Lake," Alook said in Tuesday's update to evacuees. "We are lobbying both the federal and provincial governments to support the efforts." Officials are working to obtain temporary housing solutions as soon as possible in Wabasca and are discussing permanent housing solutions in Chipewyan Lake, Alook said. The fire threatening Chipewyan Lake has now consumed more than 132,170 hectares and continues to burn out of control. It's part of a complex of four wildfires in the region that has triggered ongoing evacuation orders in nearby communities including Red Earth Creek, Peerless Lake, Trout Lake and Loon River First Nation. Evacuation lifts in Swan Hills On Thursday afternoon, more than a week after evacuation orders were issued, the 1,300 residents of Swan Hills received word it is safe to return home. Evacuation orders have been downgraded and now changed to a four-hour evacuation alert. Residents of the town are allowed to return to the community as of 11 a.m. Thursday, but must be prepared to leave on short notice. A wildfire, covering more than 16,880 hectares, continues to burn about eight kilometres north of the town, around 220 kilometres northwest of Edmonton. As of Thursday morning, a total of 52 wildfires were burning across Alberta — 21 are out of control and eight are considered a current threat to nearby communities or critical infrastructure. While relatively cooler temperatures this week have helped firefighting efforts, conditions remain dry and the wildfire risk remains extreme in regions across the province. Around 4,000 Albertans have been forced to evacuate their homes. Thousands more have been put on evacuation alert and must be prepared to leave at a moment's notice.
