Latest news with #AlbertaWildfire
CTV News
23-07-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
‘Keep those go bags tucked away for now': Evacuation notice lifted for Slave Lake
Crews are working to put out a wildfire northeast of the Town of Slave Lake. (Alberta Wildfire) The mayor of Slave Lake is telling residents to keep their go bags tucked away as an evacuation alert was lifted for the town and surrounding area Tuesday afternoon. 'Thanks to the continued hard work of Alberta Forestry crews – and some much-needed help from Mother Nature – the wildfire is no longer expected to grow,' said Mayor Francesca Ward in a Facebook post. Thousands of people in the Slave Lake region were put on a wildfire evacuation alert Sunday for a small blaze burning northeast of the town and east of Highway 88. Derrick Forsythe, an information officer with Alberta Wildfire, said crews were able to put containment lines around the fire last night. 'We still have to go cool off the hot spots, but we made some positive progress on that fire,' Forsythe told CTV News Edmonton. While cool temperatures have blanketed the province over the last couple of days, crews are preparing for warmer and drier conditions towards the end of the week. According to data from Alberta Wildfire, the fire northeast of Slave Lake was started by lightning. It has burned less than a square kilometre. There are 61 wildfires currently burning throughout the province — 16 of which are considered out of control. So far this year, about 67,000 square kilometres have burned. More than 1,400 firefighters from Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Australia and Chile are working on putting out wildfires across the province. With files from CTV News Edmonton's Amanda Anderson.
CTV News
07-07-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Cooler temperatures, rain reduce wildfire activity across Alberta
Rainfall and cooler temperatures have 'significantly' reduced fire activity across the province, says Alberta Wildfire. Derrick Forsyth, an information officer for the provincial agency, told CTV News Edmonton conditions over the last few days has resulted in fires being kept in check by weather and by work from fire crews, who have taken advantage of the conditions to contain blazes. 'There are a couple of small exceptions – the agricultural zone down south, and a couple of pockets in High Level and the Lac La Biche forest area where the danger is moderate – but we've seen a significant turnaround in terms of fire danger across the province,' Forsyth said on Sunday. Warmer temperatures starting Monday could change the outlook as could an expected increase in lightning activity this month as July is typically the most-active month for it, Forsythe said. 'This summer, there's potential for a lot more active fires to be there, but it'll be (based on) conditions,' he said. Key wildfires noted by Alberta Wildfire include the Red Earth East complex north of Slave Lake, the Sousa Creek wildfire complex west of High Level near Chateh and Rainbow Lake, and the Slims Creek wildfire north of Manning. With files from CTV News Edmonton's Miriam Valdes-Carletti
CTV News
04-07-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Rainy weather lifts fire bans in High Level, Fort McMurray
Wet weather and cooler temperatures have lifted fire bans in High Level and Fort McMurray forest areas as the risk of wildfires declines. However, Alberta Wildfire says lightning from rainstorms have sparked new fires in recent days. While outdoor wood fires and barbecue charcoal briquettes are permitted while the fire ban is lifted, Alberta Wildfire says fireworks are prohibited in the forest protection area unless special permission is given. You can confirm advisories, restrictions and bans in your area here. There are 50 wildfires burning across the province as of Friday afternoon. Fourteen are classified as out of control. There have been 12 new wildfires since Thursday. Red Earth Creek complex One of the Red Earth Creek complex fires can be seen on June 3, 2025. (Photo: Alberta Wildfire) Evacuation orders for Peerless Lake, Trout Lake and Chipewyan Lake remain in place while several blazes that make up the Red Earth East Complex continue to burn out of control. Loon River First Nation, Red Earth Creek and the Blueberry Mountain area still remain on an evacuation alert.
CBC
02-07-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Extreme heat fuels Alberta's wildfire risk as rain in the forecast offers relief
Social Sharing Alberta continues to battle a relentless wildfire season, with more than 70 wildfires burning across the province, fuelled by days of extreme heat, high winds and low humidity. Fire crews are now looking to a change in the forecast with rain expected to move into boreal regions on Thursday and Friday, promising cooler temperatures and much-needed moisture. Derrick Forsythe, an information officer with Alberta Wildfire, said the risk remains very high in many regions with crews facing intense and unpredictable conditions. Vast stretches of the province have been under extreme heat warnings for days with many communities from the far north to the far south facing daytime temperatures exceeding 37 C and overnight lows near 20 C, Environment Canada said. 'Susceptible to fire' "The warmer it gets, if there's no rain or high humidity associated with it, then the fuels will start to dry out," Forsythe said. "And as they dry out, that makes them more susceptible to fire." WATCH | Evacuated residents of Chateh, Alta., hope to return home soon: Evacuated residents of Chateh, Alta., hope to return home soon 17 days ago Duration 2:01 Wildfires continue to burn across the prairies with a smoke haze spanning from the Yukon into northern Ontario. The CBC's Sam Brooks has an update on a particularly hard-hit community in northern Alberta. According to the latest provincial fire weather forecast, rain is expected to move in across the boreal regions of Alberta Thursday and Friday after days of volatile conditions. Storms are expected to lower temperatures and douse some of the most parched areas of the province. Despite the anticipated rainfall, the risk of new fires will persist in the coming months due to dried grass and other fine fuels, Forsythe said. He urged Albertans to exercise caution. "That fine fuel, it's still out there, and that can ignite really, really easily and will carry fire quickly," he said. "Depending on where you are, you've got to be really, really careful." Northwest communities flanked by flame Forsythe said conditions in the northwest corner of the province are the most volatile and officials are closely monitoring the risk to communities. A group of fires known as the Red Earth East Creek complex is a priority for crews, he said. The complex is composed of 10 wildfires centred in the northeastern portion of the Slave Lake Forest Area. The fires threatened a handful of remote communities and triggered prolonged evacuation orders. Hundreds of people remain displaced weeks after they were ordered out of their communities. A fire, about six kilometres east of Peerless Lake in northern Alberta, has now burned nearly 13,000 hectares and is classified as out of control. Firefighters are working to extinguish hot spots on the south side of the wildfire. A fire is also burning to the west of Peerless Lake and is only five kilometres from the community. That fire has now covered more than 18,000 hectares. Another fire approximately seven kilometres southeast of Red Earth Creek and about nine kilometres west of Trout Lake, has burned more than 81,300 hectares of forest and continues to burn out of control. Firefighters have focused on dousing hot spots on the fire's northeast and northwest flanks to protect homes. A fire that advanced on the community of Chipewyan Lake has incinerated more than 138,000 hectares and is classified as out of control. Another blaze in the same area covers more than 1,300 hectares but is now classified as being held, and is no longer expected to grow beyond its current boundaries. Residents of Chipewyan Lake along with the Peerless Lake First Nation communities of Peerless Lake and Trout Lake have remained under evacuation orders since the end of May. Residents of Red Earth Creek and Loon River First Nation have been allowed to return remain on a two-hour evacuation alert. The risk of lighting has been high in recent days and fire lookout observers are monitoring for signs of smoke from new fires, according to the latest update on the regional fire response. It remains unclear when it will be safe for all residents to return. "The danger is still there," Forsythe said. "We're continuing to work on those fires but we burned up a lot of area in June, so it's going to take a while to get those perimeters cooled and make sure everything is secured." Since Jan. 1, there have been 677 wildfires in the Forest Protection Area, burning more than 681,000 hectares. More than 1,600 Alberta firefighters, contract firefighters and firefighters enlisted from across the globe are currently battling wildfires across the province. Forsythe said it's a proven to be an active season and even with rain and cooler temperatures, the risk of new fires on the landscape will remain a threat in the coming months. "It's been a pretty active wildfire season," he said. "And there's still potential for more fires. "We're hoping for the best."
CTV News
30-06-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Alberta Wildfire warns of fireworks use ahead of Canada Day
On the eve of Canada Day, Alberta Wildfire warns that fireworks use is prohibited in the province's forest protection area. Fireworks are also prohibited during fire bans in municipal regions. Check with your local authority to see if you're able to set off fireworks. Getting caught setting off fireworks in the forest protection area can result in a $600 fine. 'We encourage everyone to celebrate responsibly this Canada Day and to abide by the Forest and Prairie Protection Act,' said Alberta Wildfire spokesperson Kai Bowering. While the authority doesn't have numbers on wildfires caused by fireworks, it says more than half of wildfires are human-caused. The forest protection area represents the geographic areas concerned with the prevention and control of damage to forests from fire, insects, disease and other harmful agents. Current situation Seven new wildfires have started in the province as warm, dry conditions return, increasing wildfire risk. There are 62 blazes burning across Alberta as of Monday afternoon, 19 of which are classified as out of control. Over 1,600 firefighters from Alberta, Canada and across the globe are currently battling fires in the province. Heavy equipment, air tankers and helicopters are being used. Grande Prairie County lifts evacuation alert Officials have lifted an evacuation alert for Grande Prairie County that was issued on Friday. Evacuation orders for Peerless Lake, Trout Lake and Chipewyan lake are still in effect. The Blueberry Mountain area, Red Earth Creek and Loon River First Nation are still under an evacuation alert. Fire bans are still in effect for the High Level and Fort McMurray forest areas.
