Wildfire Danger
The wildfire danger remains Very High for areas north of Lesser Slave Lake. Click here to view the wildfire danger map for Sunday.
There has not been any significant rainfall north of Lesser Slave Lake.
Fire Ban and OHV Restriction remain in place for areas north of Lesser Slave Lake. To view a map of the Fire Ban/OHV restriction area visit www.albertafirebans.ca
To report a wildfire call 310-FIRE or #FIRE on your cell phone.
Wildfire Update
New Wildfire Starts
There were no new wildfire starts today.
Active Wildfires
SWF-100 is located west of Loon Lake, is classified as extinguished and is 2.5 hectares in size.
SWF-101 is located north of Sandy Lake and is 0.95 hectares in size and it is classified as extinguished.
17 firefighters and three helicopters continue to fight SWF-093 which is located 11 kilometres south of Chipewyan Lakes. It is classified as under control and is 98 hectares in size.
Since the start of the wildfire season on March 1st, there have been 101 wildfires and 319,676 hectares burned in the Slave Lake Forest Area.
For information on the wildfire situation across the province of Alberta click here.
Photo taken June 8th of ignition operations on the northwest side of the fire to bring the fire's edge to man-made boundaries
McMillan Wildfire Complex
Cloud cover helped reduce fire behavior on the SWF-049 today. The southeast side of the fire was less active allowing bucketing helicopters and heavy equipment to make progress through previously problematic areas. Firefighters are supporting heavy equipment along the south side of the fire to reinforce dozer lines. Crews are laying hose lines west of Wabasca to extend control lines further north on the fire perimeter. The western section of the fire that was active yesterday has been knocked down by water bombers and crews are laying hose through this area. In the northwest sector of the fire, ignition operations have brought the fire’s edge to a roadway creating a barrier to the fire’s spread.
SWF-079 has received air attack over the past few days and now crews are being deployed to lay hose around the fire’s perimeter with the support of bucketing helicopters.
Great progress has been made on SWF- 078, SWF-090 and SWF-099 as all of these fires are now under control.
Structure protection is complete at Trout Lake, Wabasca, Bigstone Cree First Nation and Marten Beach. Structure protection crews will be maintaining sprinkler systems at these sites. Structure protection is planning and prepping sprinkler systems for the community of North Wabasca.
The wildfires are:
- 4.9 and 3.3 kilometres west of Wabasca No. 166B and 166D
- 9.4 km from Wabasca No. 166C
- 26.5 kilometres northeast of Marten Beach
- 32.8 kilometres northeast of Slave Lake
- 9.3 kilometres southeast of Trout Lake
SWF-049 is 258,217 hectares and is classified as out of control.
SWF-078 is 137 hectares and is classified as under control.
SWF-079 is 993 hectares and is classified as out of control.
SWF-090 is 185 hectares and is classified as under control.
SWF-099 is 2 hectares and is classified as under control.
There are 424 firefighters and support staff, 40 helicopters, airtankers, and 43 pieces of heavy equipment fighting this wildfire.
Click here to view a map of the McMillan Wildfire Complex.
Click here to view a map of the wildfires burning in Alberta.
An Alberta Wildfire Information booth is set up at the Calling Lake Evacuation Centre.
Wildfire Information Officer for the weekend is Becky Heemeryck, she can be reached at (403)844-0808
Alberta Emergency Alert and Road Closures
The Evacuation Alert for Marten Beach, Old Smith Highway, Mitsue, Poplar Lane, Fawcett Lake, Eben Road, Bayer Road and areas in the path of the McMillan Fire Complex in the Marten Hills has been lifted as of 9:00 am, Friday June 7, 2019. The State of Local Emergency expired at 11:22 am Friday.
The communities of, Hamlet of Wabasca, Bigstone Cree Nation - Wabasca # 166, and Chipewyan Lake Village are evacuated and the public must not be in these areas. Heavy smoke is in the area and there are road closures due to the wildfires. Additional information for residents can be found at the MD of Opportunity Facebook Page
www.facebook.com/MD-of-Opportunity-No-17-Emergency-Management-1791455711074682/
Highway 754 from Highway 88 to Wabasca is closed.Highway 813 from Wabasca to Sandy Lake is closed.
For the most up to date information on road conditions visit www.511.alberta.ca
Weather
On Sunday the temperature will be 16 degrees. Winds are predicted to be west at 15 kilometres per hour. The forecast is calling for a chance of rain for areas south of Lesser Slave Lake.
A Fire Ban and OHV Restriction remains in effect for the northern portion of the Slave Lake Forest Area, areas north of Utikuma Lake, including Wabasca and areas north. To view a map of the Fire Ban/OHV restriction area visit www.albertafirebans.ca
• All open fires including campfires in campgrounds, back country and random camping areas and backyard fire pits.
• Charcoal briquettes, turkey fryers and tiki torches.
To view a fact sheet on the OHV restriction click here.
To view a fact sheet on the fire ban click here.
The Fire Ban and OHV Restriction has been lifted for southern parts of the Slave Lake Forest Area. The Town of Slave Lake, Town of High Prairie and Big Lakes County have also lifted their Fire Ban/OHV Restriction. To view a map of the Fire Ban/OHV restriction area visit www.albertafirebans.ca
Safe campfires are allowed. Never leave your campfire unattended and make sure it's extinguished.
Soak it with water, stir up the ashes and soak it again
When riding your off highway vehicle, stop frequently to remove the build up of debris from your muffler.
Fire permits are now being issued in southern parts of the Forest Protection Area in the Slave Lake Forest Area.
Call your local Alberta Agriculture and Forestry Office to request a fire permit.
-Slave Lake 780-849-7377
-High Prairie 780-523-6619
Leah Lovequist
Wildfire Information Officer
Mobile: 780-849-0945
Email:leah.lovequist@gov.ab.ca
Keep up to date on the wildfire situation by subscribing to the Slave Lake Forest Area Wildfire Update or download the free Alberta Wildfire app for Apple or Android devices.
