Fort McMurray Area Update

May 10, 2016 9:00 pm Update on the Horse River Wildfire.

Posted on Tue, May 10, 2016

 gfx-hsb-wildfiredangerupdate-high.jpg

For information on the Fort McMurray Wildfire contact Leah Lovequist 1-780-849-0945 Leah.Lovequist@gov.ab.ca

IMG_1386_2.jpg

Update 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.

The wildfire remains classified as out of control and is estimated to be 229,078 hectares in size.The increase in size is due to the Horse River wildfire (MWF-009) overrunning the wildfire that was burning to the east which was MWF-015.
 
The cool and cloudy weather this morning has allowed firefighters to make good progress, however the temperature did warm up this afternoon and the fire behaviour became active. The wildfire did experienced some growth to the northeast and there was a flare up on the south side late this afternoon. Helicopters with buckets were able to quickly control the flare up.
 
Firefighters continue to be successful in holding the wildfire from the subdivisions of Timberlea, Thickwood, Anzac and Gregoire Lake Estates.
 
Dozers continue to build guard around the north at Parsons Creek North,Timberlea/Thickwood and west of highway 63 near Anzac.Dozers have finished building guard in theGregoire Lake Estates area and tonight  will continue to build guard along the southern end of the wildfire. 
  
We are expecting to see an increase in fire behaviour with tomorrow's winds forecasted to be 20 gusting up to 40 kilometres per hour from the northeast. 
  
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 fire reached the Athabasca Oil Sands Nexen Long Lake plant site, but only light impact occurred.
 
We have over 700 firefighters (429 wildland and over 350 municipal), 31 helicopters and 13 airtankers working on this wildfire. Additional firefighters and various pieces of heavy equipment are expected to arrive over the next coming days.
 
Frequent updates on the Fort McMurray wildfire and evacuation are available by visiting www.alberta.ca 
 
 
may_10_th.jpg
 
 FBS_HubSpotBanner_FireBan_400x70_RGB.jpg

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).

 FBS_OHVRestriction_WebBanner_660x175.jpg

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

 

App_promo.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subscribe to Fort McMurray Area Updates