27-05-2025
Additional firefighting resources to arrive in Swan Hills Tuesday
An aerial photo the Lake Edith wildfire near Swan Hills on May 27, 2025. (Source: Alberta Wildfire)
The Lake Edith wildfire threatening the evacuated town of Swan Hills in northern Alberta has grown to nearly 23 square kilometres, with hot and windy conditions expected on Tuesday.
Fire activity remained low overnight due to cool temperatures and high humidity, but is expected to increase throughout the day, according to Alberta Wildfire.
Also on Tuesday, an incident command team and additional firefighting crews are expected to join municipal and provincial firefighters, heavy equipment and helicopter operators, and wildland urban interface crews tasked with protecting buildings in Swan Hills.
The town of 1,200 was evacuated early Monday evening. A reception centre was set up in Whitecourt, 120 kilometres to the south.
The town also declared a state of local emergency.
The wildfire was first detected Sunday afternoon eight kilometres north of Swan Hills and five kilometres west of Highway 33, which is closed between Swan Hills and Lesser Slave Lake to the north because of poor visibility.
Although the weather slowed the growth of the Lake Edith wildfire Monday night, lightning did spark several wildfires in the Slave Lake Forest Area. A six-hectare blaze north of Whitefish Lake First Nation remained out of control Tuesday morning, although firefighters were able to build a containment line around it. Multiple lightning-caused wildfires were also detected west of Chipewyan Lake. Neither community is at risk, Alberta Wildfire said.
There are 26 active wildfires in Alberta, nine of which are classified as out of control.
More to come…
