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Photo courtesy AB Wildfire
By Erika Rolling
Wildfires

Regional wildfire update

Jun 10, 2023 | 2:10 PM

Alberta Wildfire has issued a red flag fire watch for the Grande Prairie Forest Area. A red flag watch is issued when warm temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds are expected. This means it is likely for increased fire behaviour.

Smoke is visible in the GPFA due to the Peavine Creek and W Kiskatinaw River Wildfires in British Columbia, which are close to the provincial border and affecting the Tumbler Ridge region.

Peavine Creek Wildfire

Alberta Wildfire says the Peavine Creek wildfire is currently being managed by a BC Incident Management Team and is within 1 km of the provincial border. Alberta Wildfire is continuing to work closely with BC Wildfire and the County of Grande Prairie to ensure Alberta is prepared; should the wildfire cross the border.

The Peavine Creek Wildfire is estimates at 4,500 hectares and out of control. The suspected cause is from lightning.

County Regional Fire Service and Horse Lake First Nation crews established a trail to the border to access the active fire area on ATV’s and say there has been no growth to the east. Structural protection has been set up for properties at risk in case conditions change.

The BC Wildfire Service reports the wind has shifted to primarily west/southwest winds and ground crews, heavy equipment, and structure protection personnel are working in areas where access is not impaired by extreme fire behaviour. Unit crews are assessing potential machine guard lines and identify access routes and staging areas, and employ fire suppression tactics in permissible areas as well.

The Evacuation Alert for residents in Preston Lake is still active for residents north of Township Road 732, west of Range Road 131, and south of Township Road 742, they should be prepared to evacuate with one hour’s notice.

Boones Lake Complex

The wildfire alert put in place by the Boones Lake Complex was cancelled on Friday just before midnight by the Central Peace Regional Emergency Management Agency.

The fires had slowed their movement to the west and are said to no longer pose a threat to the communities west of the two out of control wildfires.

The fire burning southwest of White Mountain is estimated at 5,000 hectares and the one north of Valhalla is estimated at 1,200 hectares.

There are 50 firefighters alongside heavy equipment, air tankers, and helicopter bucketing operations working to contain the two blazes:

  • The 5,000 hectares blaze is said to not be responding well to suppression efforts and AB Wildfire is looking for opportunities to take strategic action to try and slow the spread with heavy equipment and air support.
  • The fire north of Valhalla received a 22 person unit crew from Boise Idaho on Saturday to fire this particular wildfire, air tankers are to be working on the north and south flank to reinforce the guard.
    22 person Unit crew – USA hotshot crews from Boise Idaho -Photo courtesy Alberta WIldfire

Sweathouse Evacuation

An evacuation alert for the MD of Greenview was issued on June 9 at 8:08 p.m., for the Sweathouse area.

Everyone in the evacuation zone is to go to Valleyview to the Horizon Inn to register as an evacuee, or over the phone by calling 780-524-7603.

A wildfire in the Slave Lake Forest Area has prompted the evacuation order, as it is out of control and estimated at over 7,200 hectares in size.

Airtankers and heavy helicopters worked on the wildfire Friday, but under the hot and windy conditions, the wildfire continued to spread towards the north and the west.

Strong and gusty winds are expected from the south and a wind shift is expected late Saturday evening.

There is increased fire activity in the north end of the wildfire and visibility is limiting the use of aircraft at this time.

by Erika Rolling