CanadaAlberta wildfires: Trout Lake on evacuation alert; High Level winds shift

Wildfire danger will elevate to ‘extreme’ in Slave Lake: Alberta Wildfire

The elevated danger is due to “strong and gusty winds” that could cause a fire to burn intensely and spread quickly, according to Alberta Wildfire. The northern part of the province is under a combination of “extreme” and “very high” fire danger. The Fort McMurray Forest Area is “extreme” south of Lake Athabasca and “very high” north of the lake. Both the Lac La Biche Forest Area and the Peace River Forest Area are under an “extreme” wildfire danger. “Temperatures will continue to rise, and the relative humidity will drop over the weekend creating cross-over conditions.

A remote northern Alberta community was put on evacuation alert due to a new wildfire Sunday evening, as crews further northwest continue to battle the High

High Level was put on evacuation alert . A mandatory evacuation order was put in place Monday morning for people in the area of Indian Cabins, Alberta ’s northernmost community, following the discovery of a wildfire . “With south winds shifting between (southeast and southwest), we can

© Credit: Alberta Wildfire The Trout Creek wildfire in northern Alberta on Sunday, May 26, 2019.

A remote northern Alberta community was put on evacuation alert due to a new wildfire Sunday evening, as crews further northwest continue to battle the High Level fire amid changes in wind direction.

Trout Lake wildfire

Another wildfire sprung up over the weekend near a remote community in northwestern Alberta, which has been put on alert to evacuate on short notice.

The wildfire is 14 kilometres southeast of the community of Trout Lake and the nearby Peerless Lake First Nation. The communities are in a remote area east of Peace River and north of Slave Lake.

Northern Alberta wildfire evacuees begin arriving at reception centre in Slave Lake

Hours after residents of High Level, Alta., and surrounding areas were issued an evacuation order because of a growing wildfire inching closer to their communities, people forced to flee began arriving at a reception centre in Slave Lake on Monday evening. Slave Lake is one of two reception centres set up to help with the High Level evacuation, the other is in High Prairie. READ MORE: High Level, surrounding areas evacuated as wildfire burns in northwestern Alberta Premier Jason Kenney tweeted Monday night that he had spoken with Crystal McAteer, the mayor of High Level, who told him the town had been successfully evacuated.

Wildfire protection efforts underway in High Level . While the north winds are helping keep the fire south of the town of High Level , the wind is causing Meanwhile evacuated residents are reminded to register at an evacuation centre, if they haven’t already. As of 2 p.m. on Friday, the province said

Thousands of High Level residents, who were evacuated nearly two weeks ago because of ongoing wildfires in Alberta Wildfire information officer Victoria Ostendorf explains what conditions changed enough for Slave Lake , Alta., still on evacuation alert over large wildfire - Продолжительность: 1

Alberta Emergency Alert said the communities should be prepared to evacuate if necessary and to follow the directions of local authorities.

According to Alberta Wildfire, as of Sunday at 6 p.m. the out-of-control fire was 300 hectares in size. Three air tanker groups and five helicopters are working on this wildfire, the province said.

Smoke from wildfires may make driving hazardous and people are advised to remain inside, limit exposure to smoke and seek medical attention if they experience breathing difficulties.

Alberta Environment says the wildfire danger in the Slave Lake region is extreme: conditions remain very dry, allowing a fire to ignite easily and spread very quickly. A fire ban is in effect for almost all of Alberta north of the Edmonton area.

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The alert extends from the outskirts of High Level east to Fort Vermillion, and south towards the mandatory evacuation area around the Paddle Prairie Métis The alert was issued "out of an abundance of caution," due to shifting winds and dry conditions, the county said in a Facebook post.

The High Level wildfire is being fought from the air, because it's not safe to have people on the ground attacking the fire , Bruce Mayer, assistant deputy minister for Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, said at A large wildfire has forced the evacuation of the town of High Level in the province's north.

A new wildfire has started 14 kilometers southeast of Trout Lake. It is classified as out of control and is estimated to be 300 hectares in size.

Visit https://t.co/9aBj4F74nd for the latest information. pic.twitter.com/YJTh8JIAls

— Alberta Wildfire (@AlbertaWildfire) May 27, 2019

High Level wildfire

The new wildfire comes as crews continue to battle the other blaze near High Level, where Monday is expected to be another difficult day due to high temperatures and a lack of any rain in the forecast.

“We have extreme fire burning conditions — the weather has gotten hotter and dryer over the past week, fuel conditions are extremely dry,” Alberta Wildfire commander Scott Elliot said on Sunday afternoon.

READ MORE: ‘We’re going to see the fire pick up and get more intense’: Fire officials provide Sunday update in High Level

The Chuckegg Creek fire is now 105,200 hectares, or 1,052 square kilometres, in size. On Sunday afternoon, officials said the fire was closer to the townsite but was burning as they expected.

Northern Alberta wildfire ranked at highest danger level, conditions expected to worsen

An out-of-control wildfire burning near a town in northwestern Alberta is rated at the highest possible danger level, and the dry, windy weather means the danger is expected to increase this week, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says.

Crews battling wildfires in northwestern Alberta are getting help today from hundreds of new The evacuation order was issued when the massive, out-of-control Chuckegg Creek Wildfire crept to Memories of the wildfires that devastated Slave Lake in 2011 and Fort McMurray in 2016 are all too

The winds have been blowing the fire away from High Level , but the forecast is calling for a wind shift that could push the flames back towards the town. Crews battling an enormous wildfire just outside the small northern Alberta town of High Level are bracing for what could be a dangerous wind shift

More than 400 firefighters, including many who have come from outside Alberta, are on the fire lines and also in High Level working to protect property and infrastructure.

They are supported by at least 28 helicopters, eight air tankers and 46 pieces of heavy equipment, according to the province.

Wildfire information officer Terry Jessiman said crews intentionally brought the flames closer to the community on Saturday as part of their controlled burn plan.

“It was done safely,” Jessiman said on Sunday. “At this time, we’re confident with the equipment that we have, we’re checking on the fire throughout the day and throughout the coming days with the weather that we’re expecting.”

The main concern Sunday was an anticipated change in wind direction. Winds initially came from the south and then shifted to the west later in the day. The wind was expected to change yet again Monday, blowing from the north or northeast.

“Our fire weather meteorologists and fire behaviour specialists have issued a red flag warning, which means the potential for extreme fire behaviour, which means high rates of spread, spotting distances, large flame lengths, high-intensity fire — so the fire behaviour risk and potential is very high," Elliot said.

Reinforcements making way to Alberta to help battle raging wildfire

Crews battling wildfires in northwestern Alberta are getting help today from hundreds of new firefighters making their way in from other provinces. British Columbia is sending a total of 267 wildfire service personnel, including 230 firefighters plus supervisors and an incident managers. The first group arrives today, the remainder should be on site on Thursday, according to B.C. Wildfire Service statement. With the unpredictable nature of wildfires, the statement said it's important that provinces support each other when the need arises and notes the "invaluable assistance Alberta has provided to B.C.

Environment Canada issued a special air quality statement for all of northern Alberta on Sunday.

The approximately 5,000 people who have been evacuated from the High Level area should not expect to return before sometime later this week.

Provincial emergency funds for their gas, food and other expenses were expected to be available on Monday.

READ MORE: Emergency financial assistance coming to High Level wildfire evacuees

Municipal Affairs Minister Kaycee Madu and Grande Prairie MLA Tracy Allard are expected to meet with evacuees and help distribute relief funds in Grande Prairie on Monday.

— With files from Jennifer Ivanov, Global News, and The Canadian Press