Wildfire Danger
The wildfire danger remains Very High to High for the Slave Lake Forest Area.
Click here to view the wildfire danger map for Monday.
The 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
Since the start of the wildfire season on March 1st, there have been 102 wildfires and 262,055 hectares burned in the Slave Lake Forest Area. The area burned has been updated to reflect fires that have been merged into the McMillan Complex.
New Wildfire Starts
There was one new wildfire start yesterday. SWF-102 is 80 hectares in size and is being fought with 27 firefighters, 4 helicopters, airtankers and one dozer group. It is located 1.3 kilometres west of the Alpac Chip road at about kilometre 45.
Active Wildfires
SWF-093 was scanned yesterday, no hot spots were found. It is classified as extinguished at 98 hectares in size and is located 11 kilometres south of Chipewyan Lakes.
For information on the wildfire situation across the province of Alberta click here.
McMillan Wildfire Complex
Crews and equipment continue to work on the southeast side of the fire building dozer lines and laying hose along these lines.
The northward expansion of hose lays continues on the east side of the fire as well as the establishment of helipads.
The northwest section of the fire will see firefighters use a combination of hose lays, ignition operations and dozer lines to establish control lines along this area of the fire.
Structure protection remains in place in Trout Lake, Wabasca, Bigstone Cree First Nation and Marten Beach. Structure protection crews will be maintaining sprinkler systems at these sites. A structure protection plan is being made for South Bigstone Road.
The wildfires are:
4.9 and 3.3 kilometres west of Wabasca No. 166B and 166D
26.5 kilometres northeast of Marten Beach
32.8 kilometres northeast of Slave Lake
9.3 kilometres southeast of Trout Lake
SWF-049 is 260,205 hectares and is classified as out of control. As of June 10 this fire has been 30% contained.
SWF-078 is 137 hectares and is classified as under control.
SWF-079 is 993 hectares and is classified as out of control. This fire is located 9.4 km northwest of Wabasca No. 166C
SWF-090 is 190 hectares and is classified as out of control. This fire is located approximately 15 km east of Graham Lake.
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 with imagery and here for one without imagery 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.
Alberta Emergency Alert and Road Closures
The communities of, Hamlet of Wabasca, Bigstone Cree Nation - Wabasca # 166, and Chipewyan Lake Village remain under an evacuation order, however conditions have improved. 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
For Monday the temperature is forecasted to be 17-18 degrees. Winds are predicted to be southeast 10 kilometres per hour switching to northwest at 10 kilometres per hour for areas north of Lesser Slave Lake. Areas to the south of Lesser Slave Lake are predicted to have winds west at 15 kilometers per hour. The forecast is calling for a moderate to high risk of scattered showers and thunderstorms later in the day.
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.
