Update on the Horse River Wildfire (MWF-009) as of 3 p.m.
The priorities for this wildfire are to protect homes, critical infrastructure, the safety of first responders, and to limit wildfire spread.The wildfire is now estimated to be over 503,671 hectares in size.
Today's weather was good for making headway in fighting this wildfire. Trace amounts of rain were received on the wildfire yesterday and through the night. Several crews of municipal and wild land firefighters continue to work on extinguishing numerous smoldering ground fires in the forested areas.
The new fire spread is to the east in remote forested areas of Saskatchewan. We are working with our partners to limit this edge from further spread.
Dozers continue to build fire guard. To date over 98.7 kilometres of dozer guard has been built.
There are 1042 wildland firefighters, 50 helicopters (five heavy helicopters), and 170 pieces of heavy equipment. Additional firefighters and various pieces of heavy equipment are expected to arrive over the next few days. There are firefighters from Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Northwest Territories, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland, Parks Canada, Nova Scotia and Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC).
Many will come from a pool of Alberta crews who had been spelled off earlier in the month. The rest will come from other jurisdictions.
Phased re-entry into Fort McMurray expected to start June 1
A voluntary, phased re-entry for the safe return of Fort McMurray residents will begin June 1 if future wildfire conditions do not delay restoration efforts. Progress continues with fencing damaged and unsafe areas. Electricity has been restored to 90% of the community, including outlying areas and gas service has been restored to 74% of Fort McMurray.
Re-entry should be complete by June 15, to coincide with full restoration of Northern Lights Regional Health Centre.
Residents of homes lost to the fire will have the opportunity to inspect their property and collect any surviving items before cleanup begins. Click here for details.
The 2016 Wildfire Recovery Task Force is meeting regularly to plan re-entry into affected communities.
Five things need to be in place for re-entry:
- Wildfire is no longer an imminent threat to the community
- Critical infrastructure is repaired to provide basic service
- Essential services, such as fire, EMS, police and healthcare are restored to a basic level
- Hazardous areas are secure. There are 100 truckloads of fencing being sent to Fort McMurray.
- Local government is re-established
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. They provide critical information about an immediate disaster, where it is occurring and what action you need to take.
Albertans can use an online mapping application to survey damage in Fort McMurray.
Click here to view the aerial photos.
Effective May 19 at 4 p.m., the province-wide fire ban was amended to the following:
Effective at 4 p.m. May 19, the fire ban and OHV restrictions will no longer be in effect for much of the province. They will remain in effect for the Lac La Biche and Fort McMurray Forest Areas of northeastern Alberta.
In the parts of Alberta’s Forest Protection Area where the fire ban is still in effect, portable propane fire pits and gas or propane stoves and barbecues designed for cooking or heating are allowed. All open fires are still prohibited. All fire permits have been suspended in those areas and no new permits will be issued until further notice.
Check albertafirebans.ca for the location of fire bans, restrictions and advisories as well as for more information on what is and is not included in the ban or call 1-866-FYI-FIRE (394-3473).
Check emergency.alberta.ca for more information on the OHV restriction.
Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Restriction Fort McMurray and Lac La Biche Forest Areas of Northeastern Alberta
Recreational use of off-highway vehicles (OHV) is restricted on all public lands and provincial parks, 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:
Lynn Daina - Wildfire Information Officer Fort McMurray Forest Area - 1-780-799-9235
Lynn.Daina@gov.ab.ca
