Wildfire Danger
The wildfire danger is MODERATE to VERY HIGH in the Slave Lake Forest Area. Click here to view the wildfire danger map for Friday.
Temporary relief from the wildfire danger is expected for areas north of Lesser Slave Lake as there is a good chance of rain. The wildfire danger for areas around and south of Lesser Slave Lake will be HIGH to VERY HIGH.
We have yet to receive a good amount of rain that will bring long term relief to the dry conditions in the forested areas.
Thundershowers with lightning are expected to move through the area over the next 24 hours. Firefighters in helicopters, airtankers and heavy equipment are ready to fight any new wildfires that may start.
Under the dry conditions a fire will ignite easily and spread very quickly. Firefighters are urging everyone to use caution and report wildfires immediately by calling 310-FIRE or #FIRE on your cell phone.
The Fire Ban and OHV Restriction remain in place for areas north of Lesser Slave Lake. To view a map and details regarding the Fire Ban/OHV restriction visit www.albertafirebans.ca
Weather
For Friday the temperature will be 19 to 20 degrees. Winds will be from the northwest 20 kilometres per hour gusting up to 40. There is a chance of thundershowers with lightning over the next 24 hours. A significant amount of rain is not expected.
Smoky conditions are expected to continue. Click here to view the air quality statement that has been issued. If you experience respiratory difficulties, visit Alberta Health Link or dial 811. Visit www.firesmoke.ca to view the most current smoke forecast.
Wildfire Update
Since the start of the wildfire season on March 1st, there have been 105 wildfires and 264,008 hectares burned in the Slave Lake Forest Area.
New Wildfire Starts
There were two new wildfire starts tonight.
SWF-106 located north of Gift Lake is being held and firefighters are working to extinguish the 0.01 hectare fire.
SWF-105 located south of East Prairie is being held and firefighters are working to contain the 0.1 hectare fire.
SWF-103 located near Lubicon Lake has been extinguished.and is 0.1 hectares.
SWF-102 is located 1.3 kilometres west of the Chip/Alpac Road at approximately kilometre 45. It started on June 9th. 23 firefighters, four helicopters and heavy equipment continue to fight this wildfire. It is 153 hectares in size and is classified as out of control.
For information about the wildfire in Peace River Forest Area - 27 kilometres south of Cadotte Lake click here
Provincial Wildfire Situation
For information on the wildfire situation across the province of Alberta click here.
Click here to view a map of the wildfires burning in Alberta.
McMillan Wildfire Complex
Firefighters continue to make good progress fighting these wildfires. As of today, firefighters have laid over 120 kilometres of hose.
Of the four wildfires in the McMillan Complex, two are under control and two are classified as out of control. SWF-049 has burned into SWF-079 as these fires were in close proximity to each other.
SWF-049 is 262,009 hectares and is classified as out of control.
SWF-078 is 137 hectares and is classified as under control.
SWF-090 is 216 hectares and is classified as out of control.
SWF-099 is 2 hectares and is classified as under control.
SWF-049 is 50% contained as of June 12th. This afternoon three to five millimetres of rain fell on the fire.
Firefighters remain on the eastern side of the fire to the west of Bigstone Cree Nation and Wabasca and continue to extinguish fires within the perimeter.
Firefighters continue to lay hose across priority areas and are extinguishing all hot spots 30 metres in from the fire perimeter.
After yesterday’s fire activity in the southeast, heavy equipment has moved in to reinforced dozer lines in this area of the fire. Airtankers and bucketing helicopters supported areas of the fire today to help reduce fire behavior.
Firefighters are using hand ignition operations along roadways to bring the fire to man-made boundaries. Firefighters are laying hose along areas of the fire in the northeast to limit recent growth in the area of SWF-079. Patrolling for ground fires in the Marten Lakes Road area continues.
Structure protection remains in place in the communities of Trout Lake, Wabasca, and Bigstone Cree Nation.
There are 537 firefighters and support staff, 45 helicopters, airtankers, and 43 pieces of heavy equipment fighting this wildfire.
SWF-049 remains approximately:
- 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
Click here to view a map with imagery and click here for one without imagery of the McMillan Wildfire Complex.
A Wildfire Information Booth will be set up at the Lakeview Sports Centre in Wabasca on Friday June 14th 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Click here to view information about the BBQ planned for Friday June 14th.
The evacuation orders for Wabasca-Desmarais, Hamlets of Sandy Lake, and Chipewyan Lake, and all of Bigstone Cree Nation have been rescinded and the public can now return back to these areas. Residents must be prepared to evacuate on short notice, due to wildfire activity in the area. Keep up to date by visiting www.emergencyalert.alberta.ca
For the safety of our firefighters, please obey the reduced speed limit on the highways.Highway 813 from Wabasca to Sandy Lake is open. Highway 754 from Highway 88 to Wabasca is open. Expect delays due to traffic volume and reduced visibility in smoke.Speed reductions in effect. .View updates on highways by visiting 511.Alberta.ca or download the mobile app.
Smoky conditions are expected to continue in the Wabasca area.If you experience respiratory difficulties, visit Alberta Health Link or dial 811. Visit www.firesmoke.ca to view the most current smoke forecast.Click here to view the air quality statement that has been issued.Click here for Alberta Health Services Information about Wildfire Smoke.
Structure protection equipment remains in place. Cick here for a message from the Fire Chiefs of the Wabasca and Bigstone Cree Nation Fire Departments regarding the fire fighting equipment that has been left in place.
The Fire Ban and OHV Restriction remain in place for areas north of Lesser Slave Lake. To view a map and details regarding the Fire Ban/OHV restriction visit www.albertafirebans.ca
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.
