High Level Area Update

WILDFIRE UPDATE JULY 4, 2015 10:00am

Air quality will remain poor today for the High Level Wildfire Management (HLWMA) area because of dense smoke. Anyone with health concerns should check the Alberta Health Services website or call 811 for 24/7 health advice from Alberta Health Link. For a smoke forecast map click here

The wildfire burning 4.5 km west of North Tallcree remains classified as out of control. The latest recorded size is 5,877 hectares. The fire grew on the south side yesterday with winds pushing the fire from the northwest. Today winds are from the north and the fire is predicted to move away from the community of North Tallcree and HWY88 in a south direction. 

Residents of North Tallcree remain under an evacuation order as a precaution by the Alberta Emergency Management Agency and the North Tallcree First Nation. Contact the North Tallcree Band Office at 780-927-3727 for more information.

The four wildfires burning 11 km north of Meander River on the west side of Highway 35 are all listed as out of control with a total of 19,643 hectares burned. Heavy smoke is expected to drift into the community. Residents of Meander River have been placed on an evacuation alert contact (780) 926-2786 for more information.

The wildfire burning 50 km west of High Level south of Highway 58  is out of control at 19,858 hectares. There are 157 firefighters fighting this fire.

There are two wildfires burning north and northwest of Steen River, west of highway 35. The fire burning 12 km north is now being held at 277 hectares.  The fire burning 24km northwest is out of control at 6,289 hectares. This fire received an estimate 20 millimeters of rain last night, this will help suppress fire activity today. 

The existing wildfire in the Buffalo Head Hills area remains out of control at 10,644 hectares. Today winds from the north are expected to drive this fire in a south direction.

There are 42 wildfires in HLWMA. Twenty-four are out of control, 8 are being held, and 9 are under control. To see the status and location of all wildfires in the HLWMA please click here or call 1-866-916-INFO(4636).

A fire advisory is in effect for the High Level Wildfire Management Area due to the extreme wildfire hazard. Existing fire permits continue to be suspended and new fire permits will not be issued. Safe campfires are permitted, but may be restricted in the coming days if conditions worsen.

Please check albertafirebans.ca for more information or call 1-866-FYI-FIRE. For information regarding road closures, please dial 511 or check the Alberta Transportation website at 511.alberta.ca