By Erika Rolling

Wildfires

Alerts, evacuation orders in greater Grande Prairie area due to wildfires

May 14, 2023 | 3:00 PM

Dunes West

The evacation order has been downgraded to an alert for residents immediately south of Township Road 710, east of Spring Creek to Range Road 65 south to Park Meadows, Park Meadows and Deer Run Estates, and within Townships 32 70 6W6 and 33 70 6W6, can return to their homes.

The wildfire remains out of control at an estimated size of 1,581 hectares. The cause of the fire is undetermined.

The current high temperatures and low humidity, paired with gusting winds are forecasted for the week ahead and are anticipated to make firefighting efforts a challenge for crews.

Military personnel are targeting hot spots around properties in Riverview Pines, Wapiti Estates, and Spring View Estates before moving on to reinforce the line of fire retardant in the Spring Creek area today.

Meaningful Mementos

Remembering Someone You've Lost at Christmas

Dec 03, 2024

Seasonal Sorrow

How Do You Get Through The Holidays When You're Grieving?

Nov 01, 2024

Upcoming Events at Oliver's

Grief & Loss and Estate Planning Seminars

Oct 02, 2024

Clear Hills County

An evacuation alert was issued for the County of Clear Hills as a wildfire north of the Peace River is burning out of control at over 13,000 hectares, and grew by nearly 2,500 hectares Saturday.

Clear Hills County says Alberta Fire Service crews worked well into the evening on the fire. The fire reached Highway 64 in just a few places; fire crews were able to extinguish the areas as they crossed over to the south side of Highway 64.

They are foreseeing that it will continue to move north towards Highway 64 between the area of Range Road 84 and intersection of Secondary Highway 726 (Worsley).

The County is asking anyone within the area of Range Road 74 north to Township 854 west to Range Road 84 and south to Highway 64 to be alert and prepared to evacuate on one hour notice.

An Alberta Emergency Alert will be issued if an evacuation order is required.

Bald Mountain

Certain MD of Greenview residents were put on evacuation order on Friday evening for the Bald Mountain fire.

People living in the area south of Township Road 690, between Highway 40 and the BC Border, are required to evacuate to Grande Prairie and register at Bonnetts Energy Centre.

Those living north of Township Road 690 to the Wapiti River in the MD of Greenview are to be prepared to leave on short notice as they are on evacuation alert.

The fire is located 50 kilometres south of Grande Prairie and is burning out of control at an estimated 11,750 hectares.

Sturgeon Lake Complex

Two fires near Sturgeon Lake are still actively burning out of control.

An evacuation alert has been put in place for people living in the Town of Valleyview, as well as Highway 49 Township Road 222 south to Township Road 700, west to Range Road 230 and north to Twonship Road 710.

The one near Highway 43 (GWF017) is estimated at 3,765 hectares in size. Municipal structural protection along with Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation are assisting with this wildfire. Heavy equipment is building a fire guard around both wildfires and are nearly complete.

Alberta Wildfire is responding with 37 firefighters, helicopters, and heavy equipment.

Air tankers are working today, skimming water off of Sturgeon Lake and dumping onto the fire.

Fire watchers are asking the public to be safe and refrain from boating or using other watercrafts to getting a closer look at aircraft working, as it poses a major safety risk for air crews and anyone else in the area.

More crews from Ontario and the USA arrived to help with the complex.

The fire north of the Sturgeon Lake fire, was estimated at 1,189 hectares on Saturday.