Photo courtesy Alberta Wildfire

By Erika Rolling

Wildfires

Recent rainfall helps wildfire fighting efforts, evacuations downgraded to alerts

Jun 15, 2025 | 12:35 PM

Thanks to plenty of precipitation over the past 48 hours, Evacuation Orders have been downgraded to Evacuation Alerts across the Grande Prairie Forest Area.

The wildfire danger rating has also dropped to low, but Alberta Wildfire wants to remind people that wildfires can still start, especially in dry areas and during windy conditions.

Kiskatinaw River Wildfire

GPREP was deactivated off of this fire as of Saturday, June 14.

An Evacuation Alert remains in effect for those residing north of Township Road 710 to 740, east of the British Columbia/Alberta border to Range Road 132.

Fire crews continue to conduct suppression operations, supported by recent rainfall. High-level scanning is being used to detect hotspots, and heavy machinery is working to build containment guards directly along the fire’s edge towards the south and along Highway 52 moving east towards the Alberta border.

The Kiskatinaw River Wildfire is still classified as out of control and estimated at 26,623 hectares.

County Regionals Fire Service crews are monitoring the area and ongoing smoke may be visible. If residents see open flame from this fire, they are asked to call 911.

ATCO has also restored natural gas service to all affected residents and completed all the necessary relights, after shutting off service during the Evacuation Order.

A fire ban remains in effect for the entire County of Grande Prairie.

Moonshine Lake/Blueberry Mountain Wildfire

Parts of the Evacuation Order in Saddle Hills County was downgraded to an Evacuation Alert on Friday for those near the Hamelin Creek wildfire.

Saddle Hills County says all those located between Township Road 794 and Highway 680 (Township Road 802), and Range Road 95 and Highway 725, remain on Evacuation Order, as well as in the Crown Land, north of Township Road 800 and south of the Blueberry Mountain Grazing Reserve, including Moonshine Lake Provincial Park.

There is no immediate threat to critical infrastructure and no reports of any residences damaged, as per the last update on Friday afternoon.

This lightning-caused wildfire remains out of control at 5,502 hectares.

The fireguard at Moonshine Lake Provincial Park continues to be maintained by Savanna Fire Department. Happy Valley Fire Department is monitoring for hot spots and sparks crossing the road.

Alberta Wildfire continues to respond with firefighting crews, heavy equipment, and aircraft, when smoke conditions allow for safe flight operations.

Alberta Parks remains actively involved in supporting the wildfire response in the Moonshine Lake Provincial Park.