Photo supplied by Alberta Agriculture and Forestry.

By Curtis Galbraith

Wildfires

Arson investigation into McMillan wildfire continues

Jan 13, 2020 | 2:33 PM

Fire investigators continue to investigate a wildfire that burned 273,000 hectares.

The McMillan Complex fire stared May 18 last year north of Slave Lake along Highway 754.

Slave Lake Wildfire Information Officer Leah Lovequist investigators from Alberta Agriculture and Forestry and the RCMP both concluded that arson was the cause.

“You know, it was an extremely busy time of year for the Province of Alberta and many fire were burning, so we did ask for help from other provinces and other countries. At the (maximum ) time there, were 500 firefighters working on the McMillan wildfire.”

Those firefighters came from five other provinces, five US states, plus Mexico. No buildings were damaged and no one was hurt. Several communities had to be evacuated.

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Lovequist adds the blaze started at around 2 p.m on May 18.

“(There were) two fires along Highway 754. Despite firefighting efforts, the conditions were so extreme (that) the fire spread very quickly. It caused evacuations and alerts for numerous communities, (including) Marten Beach, Wabasca, and Trout Lake.”

Lovequist says any witnesses should contact investigators.

“If anyone was witness to anything on May 18 at 2 p.m. along Highway 754 to Wabasca, it was about at Kilometre 40, (if) they could please call any information they have to our tip line.”

The number for that tip line is 1-833-999-FIRE (3473).