Fort McMurray Area Update

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.

9Update on the Horse River Wildfire (MMF-009) as of 9:00 pm today.

The priorities for this wildfire are to protect homes, critical infrastructure, the safety of first responders, and to further limit wildfire spread.

 

 

Frequent updates on the Fort McMurray wildfire and evacuation are available by visiting www.alberta.ca 

 

 

Two additional fires in the area (MWF-013 and 014) which were started by lightning strikes from this fire, were overrun by MWF-009 on May 7th.  There is potential for two more (MWF-015 and 016) to be overrun as well.

 

For infomation on MWF-015 visit http://srd.web.alberta.ca/lac-la-biche-area-update

 

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