Fort McMurray Area Update

May 16, 2016 8:00 pm Update on the Horse River Wildfire.

Posted on Mon, May 16, 2016

 

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An live news conference is scheduled for 11:00 am today.  Click here  and scroll down the page to view the News Conference. 

Very warm temperatures and dry conditions have caused the wildfire hazard to climb to EXTREME for the Fort McMurray Forest Area.The forecast for tomorrow is calling for warm temperatures and strong gusty winds from the west  and southwest. There is no rain in the long term forecast.

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

For a recorded message about the Fort McMurray Wildfire call 1-866-916-INFO

For evacuation information please visit www.alberta.ca or call 310-4455

Click here for Alberta Emergency Alerts. These alerts are issued to assist you—providing you with critical information about an immediate disaster, where it is occurring and what action you need to take.

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Update on the Horse River Wildfire (MMF-009) as of 8:00 pm

 

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

The strong gusty winds this afternoon caused the wildfire to exhibit extreme behaviour. The wildfire has grown in all directions. The west part of the fire is burning five kilometres away from, and parallel to the community. The burned area between the community and the active wildfire is acting as a fire guard. There are many firefighters in the area watching for burning embers. The north side of the wildfire has crossed Tower Road. For evacuation information visit Alberta Emergency Alert. The far east side of the wildfire is approximately 10 - 12 kilometres from the Saskatchewan border, and the south side of the wildfire remains approximately 40 kilometres northwest of Janvier.

Firefighters will be measuring the growth this evening and a new map will be available tomorrow. As of 1:00 pm today, the wildfire was estimated to be 284,214 hectares. Click here to view today's map.

Firefighters remained successful in holding the wildfire from Timberlea, Saprae Creek, Thickwood, Gregoire Lake Estates, Anzac, Fort McMurray First Nations and various critical infrastructure. Several crews of municipal and wild land firefighters continue to work on extinguishing numerous smoldering ground fires in the forested areas.

Dozers continue to build fire guards on the west, south and north sides of the wildfire. To date over 61 kilometres of dozer guard has been built.

Tomorrow, firefighters are expecting to see extreme wildfire behaviour as the forecast is calling for very warm temperatures and strong gusty winds once again. 
 
We have over 1,100 firefighters, over 200 pieces of heavy equipment, 46 helicopters and 29 airtankers working on this wildfire. Additional firefighters and various pieces of heavy equipment are expected to continue to arrive over the next coming days.
 
Frequent updates about the evacuation are available by visiting www.alberta.ca  or by calling 310-4455
 
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Effective May 13 at noon, the province-wide fire ban was amended to the following:

A fire ban is in effect for portions of northern and central Alberta. The fire ban applies to Alberta’s Forest Protection Area in northern and central Alberta and all counties, municipal districts and special areas, as well as provincial parks and recreation areas. The fire ban does not apply to cities, towns, villages, summer villages, or federal lands, such as national parks. NOTE: A county or municipal district may decide to add additional restrictions – please check your local area.

Prohibited

  • All open fires, including wood campfires, charcoal briquette fires, turkey fryers, and tiki torches
  • Portable propane fire pits and gas or propane stoves and barbecues designed for cooking or heating are allowed.
  • The use of incendiary targets

Allowed

  • Gas or propane stoves/barbecues and portable propane fire pits that are CSA approved and UL certified
  • Propane barbecues and stoves
  • Catalytic or infrared style heaters

Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Restriction

Recreational use of off-highway vehicles (OHV) is restricted on all public lands and provincial parks within portions of northern and central Alberta, including designated OHV trails. The restriction does not apply to agriculture, public safety, commercial/industrial or 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. The restriction will remain in effect until further notice.

For more information on Fire Advisories, Restrictions or Bans across the province, visit AlbertaFirebans.ca or call 1-866-FYI-FIRE (394-3473).

For more information contact:

Leah Lovequist - Wildfire Information Officer

1-780-849-0945

Leah.Lovequist@gov.ab.ca

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