Latest news with #AlannaHnatiw
Globe and Mail
09-05-2025
- Climate
- Globe and Mail
Crews battling wildfire north of Edmonton not out of the woods yet, say officials
Higher humidity and lower temperatures have helped crews responding to a wildfire north of Edmonton, but officials say they aren't out of the woods yet. Sturgeon County fire Chief Chad Moore says 71 homes have been evacuated as a blaze near the Redwater Provincial Recreation Area continues to burn out of control. He says people are being urged to stay away from the evacuation area while crews from as far north as Slave Lake, Alta., battle the 3,000-hectare fire. Officials have said the fire started over the weekend when an all-terrain vehicle caught fire after an apparent electrical or mechanical failure. Gavin Hojka from Alberta Wildfire says strong winds on Thursday ramped up fire activity, but higher humidity and lower temperatures helped lower its intensity. He says firefighters are 'not out of the woods' yet and are working on containing the fire's perimeter to limit its spread so they can get residents home as soon as possible. 'This has been an incredibly difficult situation, and we have seen incredible support from all of our community partners,' Sturgeon County Mayor Alanna Hnatiw told a news conference Friday. 'I just want to recognize the compassion and the resilience that we have seen in this community. This is definitely a testament to the strength and the enduring spirit of Sturgeon County.'
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Sturgeon County wildfire forces residents to prepare for evacuation
Local authorities declared a state of emergency in Sturgeon County , Alberta , amid a powerful wildfire that has rapidly spread. It ignited near the Redwater Provincial Recreation Area northeast of Edmonton and quickly expanded from 110 hectares to an estimated 388 hectares (about 959 acres) overnight. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack India much better equipped to target cross-border terror since Balakot India conducts maiden flight-trials of stratospheric airship platform Pakistan shuts ports for Indian ships after New Delhi bans imports from Islamabad A combination of reasons related to the high temperatures and dry conditions led to this wildfire, and although the fire hasn't crossed the North Saskatchewan River, authorities are urging residents to be prepared for evacuation. In case of evacuation, residents are advised to leave immediately, taking only the essentials like their emergency kits, important documents, medication, and supplies for up to 72 hours. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Join new Free to Play WWII MMO War Thunder War Thunder Play Now Undo "The situation is changing fast," said a local fire official, urging the community to remain vigilant. As the flames grow, Sturgeon County is pulling out all the stops. Three aerial firefighting helicopters, along with ground crews, are battling the blaze from all angles. The Alberta wildfire resource branch has also sent additional support, and five neighboring counties have activated their emergency response plans to assist in the firefighting efforts. Despite these massive efforts, one home has already been lost in the fire. Live Events Resident Sarah McAllister, who had to evacuate with her two children and pet dogs, shared with a local media, 'We've lived here for 15 years, and watching everything go up in smoke, it's devastating. But we know we're fortunate to be safe.' No casualties have been reported yet, and several animals, including a herd of cattle, were successfully relocated from danger. Local officials have praised the coordination of first responders, who are doing everything possible to protect lives and property. Emergency services are asking residents to stay away from the Redwater Recreation Area to give crews room to work. Roads to the area are closed, accessible only to local traffic and emergency vehicles. 'We've seen the strength of this community in the past, and we will get through this together,' said Mayor Alanna Hnatiw. 'Our priority is the safety of our residents, and we are working tirelessly with our neighboring counties to manage this evolving crisis.'
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Out-of-control wildfire sparks Sturgeon County to declare local state of emergency
An out-of-control wildfire in Sturgeon County, Alta., has burned down one house, scattered animals and forced residents to standby ready to evacuate. The county issued an evacuation notice Saturday evening, warning residents to prepare to flee in case conditions worsen. Shortly after midnight, the county declared a local state of emergency. "We're just keeping people safe and trying to protect property," Mayor Alanna Hnatiw told CBC Radio's Daybreak Alberta on Sunday. The evacuation notice affects people living around the Redwater Provincial Recreation Area, about 60 kilometres northeast of Edmonton. Late Saturday night, RCMP issued news releases saying officers from multiple departments were responding. Emergency personnel were helping people evacuate, but police didn't specify how many. At 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, the county issued another update, stating the evacuation area includes: Range Road 205 to Victoria Trail; Township 574 to Range Road 205; Township 574 to Range Road 203; South of Township 580 to the North Saskatchewan River; East of Range Road 212 to the North Saskatchewan River. As of 1:30 a.m. Sunday, temporary road closures were implemented around the provincial park. Only county residents are allowed into the area, the county said. Alberta Wildfire estimated the fire to span nearly 390 hectares, according to the agency's dashboard as of 12:45 p.m. In its update Sunday afternoon, the county said three helicopters are part of the fire fight. "If winds can change, situations can change," Hnatiw said. "We just want to be able to allow emergency response to do their jobs, with as minimal barriers as possible." The local state of emergency, she said, allows fire crews to enter property or use equipment needed to respond to the flames. As of early Sunday morning, the fire had not crossed the North Saskatchewan River, to the southeast of the flames, but they had burned down one house, Hnatiw affected area, with a mix of forest and farmland, is not densely populated. But she said there are some cattle and poultry farms. The family whose home burned down was able to evacuate their herd of cattle, Hnatiw said. "Our hearts go out to them," Hnatiw said. "Often, if farms have cattle, they have other animals as well and [we] have yet to find out what has taken place." Hnatiw said she's grateful the family was able to establish a cattle liner. But it's also a sign that wildfires are becoming a common threat for residents. "Losing not just your animals, but your assets, would certainly add to further complication and suffering, to what is, I'm quite sure, already a horrendous loss to the family," Hnatiw said. "We're just grateful that everyone is able to get out safe." Officials from the county's families and community services has contacted the family to support them however they need, she said. The Alberta Wildfire dashboard shows Sturgeon County is under a fire restriction, which bans wood fires on public lands. The fire risk in most of the county, including where the out-of-control fire is burning, is very high. Prescribed burn leads to fire in northwest Alberta An "unexpected wind event" turned a prescribed burn along the Peace River, in northwestern Alberta, into a large out-of-control fire, according to Alberta Wildfire. Late Friday afternoon, wind fanned the flames on the Hutton Creek prescribed fire project, breaking the containment barrier, the agency said in an update at 1:45 p.m. Sunday. Crews are working to put out the fire, which is estimated to span 1,200 hectares. The flames are about 35 kilometres southeast of Manning, Alta., but on the opposite side of the river, the Alberta Wildfire dashboard shows. But in its update Sunday afternoon, Alberta Wildfire said the fire does not pose a threat to nearby communities. The dashboard shows the region is under a fire advisory, which signals an elevated fire risk but doesn't ban any flames other than fireworks and exploding targets. The potential fire danger where it is burning is very high.
CBC
04-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Out-of-control wildfire sparks Sturgeon County to declare local state of emergency
Social Sharing An out-of-control wildfire in Sturgeon County, Alta., has burned down one house, scattered animals and forced residents to standby ready to evacuate. The county issued an evacuation notice Saturday evening, warning residents to prepare to flee in case conditions worsen. Shortly after midnight, the county declared a local state of emergency. "We're just keeping people safe and trying to protect property," Mayor Alanna Hnatiw told CBC Radio's Daybreak Alberta on Sunday. The evacuation notice affects people living around the Redwater Provincial Recreation Area, about 60 kilometres northeast of Edmonton. Late Saturday night, RCMP issued news releases saying officers from multiple departments were responding. Emergency personnel were helping people evacuate, but police didn't specify how many. At 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, the county issued another update, stating the evacuation area includes: Range Road 205 to Victoria Trail; Township 574 to Range Road 205; Township 574 to Range Road 203; South of Township 580 to the North Saskatchewan River; East of Range Road 212 to the North Saskatchewan River. As of 1:30 a.m. Sunday, temporary road closures were implemented around the provincial park. Only county residents are allowed into the area, the county said. Alberta Wildfire estimated the fire to span nearly 390 hectares, according to the agency's dashboard as of 12:45 p.m. In its update Sunday afternoon, the county said three helicopters are part of the fire fight. "If winds can change, situations can change," Hnatiw said. "We just want to be able to allow emergency response to do their jobs, with as minimal barriers as possible." The local state of emergency, she said, allows fire crews to enter property or use equipment needed to respond to the flames. As of early Sunday morning, the fire had not crossed the North Saskatchewan River, to the southeast of the flames, but they had burned down one house, Hnatiw said. The affected area, with a mix of forest and farmland, is not densely populated. But she said there are some cattle and poultry farms. The family whose home burned down was able to evacuate their herd of cattle, Hnatiw said. "Our hearts go out to them," Hnatiw said. "Often, if farms have cattle, they have other animals as well and [we] have yet to find out what has taken place." Hnatiw said she's grateful the family was able to establish a cattle liner. But it's also a sign that wildfires are becoming a common threat for residents. "Losing not just your animals, but your assets, would certainly add to further complication and suffering, to what is, I'm quite sure, already a horrendous loss to the family," Hnatiw said. "We're just grateful that everyone is able to get out safe." Officials from the county's families and community services has contacted the family to support them however they need, she said. The Alberta Wildfire dashboard shows Sturgeon County is under a fire restriction, which bans wood fires on public lands. The fire risk in most of the county, including where the out-of-control fire is burning, is very high. Prescribed burn leads to fire in northwest Alberta An "unexpected wind event" turned a prescribed burn along the Peace River, in northwestern Alberta, into a large out-of-control fire, according to Alberta Wildfire. Late Friday afternoon, wind fanned the flames on the Hutton Creek prescribed fire project, breaking the containment barrier, the agency said in an update at 1:45 p.m. Sunday. Crews are working to put out the fire, which is estimated to span 1,200 hectares. The flames are about 35 kilometres southeast of Manning, Alta., but on the opposite side of the river, the Alberta Wildfire dashboard shows. But in its update Sunday afternoon, Alberta Wildfire said the fire does not pose a threat to nearby communities. The dashboard shows the region is under a fire advisory, which signals an elevated fire risk but doesn't ban any flames other than fireworks and exploding targets. The potential fire danger where it is burning is very high.
