For information on the Fort McMurray Wildfire contact Leah Lovequist 1-780-849-0945 Leah.Lovequist@gov.ab.ca
Public safety remains the key priority as the wildfire in Fort McMurray continues to burn. Provincial fire crews continue their efforts to reduce the threat to property and infrastructure.
Update on the Horse River Wildfire (MMF-009) as of 1:00 pm today.
The priorities for this wildfire are to protect homes, critical infrastructure, the safety of first responders, and to further limit wildfire spread.
The Fort McMurray wildfire did not grow as aggressively yesterday in the north east as originally anticipated, but significant growth did still occur in the north and south east areas of the wildfire. The wildfire remains classified as out of control and is currently estimated at 161,197 hectares.
There are over 366 firefighters, 20 helicopters (4 heavy helicopters) and 15 airtankers fighting the wildfire. With the strong and gusty winds we are experiencing today, the fire behaviour is still expected to be extreme and firefighters will be deployed in safe areas.
For the past two days, firefighters have been successful in holding the wildfire from the subdivisions of Timberlea, Thickwood and Gregoire Lakes Estates. Firefighters were challenged in Anzac yesterday where 2 buildings. 66 firefighters were working on this area of the wildfire.
Yesterday, Suncor and Syncrude made the decision to shut down their facilities to the north of Fort McMurray and evacuate their non-essential staff. More information on these evacuations is available through the Provincial Operations Centre.On May 6, the wildfire reached the Athabasca Oil Sands Nexen Long Lake plant site. The site is still obscured by smoke.
MWF-013 and 014 were overrun by MWF-009. There is potential for MWF-015 and 016 to be overrun as well.
Frequent updates on the wildfire and evacuation are available by visiting www.alberta.ca
A Province-wide Fire Ban is now in place for the Province of Alberta
All open fires, including campfires and charcoal briquettes, are prohibited. The use of incendiary targets is also banned.
Portable propane fire pits and gas or propane stoves and barbeques designed for cooking or heating are allowed.
The fire ban applies to Alberta’s Forest Protection Area and all counties, municipal districts and special areas, and provincial parks and recreation areas. The fire ban does not apply to cities, towns, villages, summer villages, or federal lands.
For more information on Fire Advisories, Restrictions or Bans across the province, visit AlbertaFirebans.ca or call 1-866-FYI-FIRE (394-3473).
Province restricts off-highway vehicle recreational use
The OHV restriction will be in place until further notice. It applies to recreational use on public lands, including designated OHV trails, only.
It will not apply to agriculture, public safety or commercial/industrial users who operate OHVs for farming, enforcement or business purposes. The OHV restriction does not apply to the use of an OHV by Indigenous peoples when exercising a right recognized and affirmed under Part II of the Constitution Act, 1982 or a right under section 12 of the Natural Resources Transfer Agreement.
Wildfire management staff, along with enforcement personnel, including Conservation Officers and Fish and Wildlife Officers, will enforce the temporary OHV recreational restriction immediately. OHVs include all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), four-wheel vehicles, motorcycles and related two-wheel vehicles and amphibious machines.
For more information contact:
Leah Lovequist - Wildfire Information Officer
1-780-849-0945
Leah.Lovequist@gov.ab.ca
