The wildfire danger has climbed to VERY HIGH/EXTREME in the Slave Lake Forest Area. Click here to view the wildfire danger map for Monday.
Very warm temperatures and strong winds are expected Monday. Under the current 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.
Firefighters in helicopters, airtankers and heavy equipment are ready to fight any new wildfires that may start.
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 Monday the temperature will be 28 degrees and winds will be from the southeast 20 kilometres per hour gusting up to 40.
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 113 wildfires and 266,265 hectares burned in the Slave Lake Forest Area.
New Wildfire Starts
There was one new wildfire start today. It is located 22 kilometres northeast of Red Earth Creek. The wildfire is 0.2 hectares and firefighters are working to extinguish it.
SWF-109 started on June 14th and is located eight kilometres northeast of the town of High Prairie.The wildfire is classified as under control and is 2.0 hectares. Nine firefighters with a helicopter are working to extinguish it.
SWF-102 started on June 9th and is located 1.3 kilometres west of the Chip/Alpac Road at approximately kilometre 45. It is 193 hectares in size and classified as under control. There are 16 firefighters and three helicopters are working to extinguish it.
SWF-090 started on June 2nd and is located 18 kilometres northeast of Trout Lake. It is 187 hectares and classified as under control. There are 16 firefighters and two helicopters working to extinguish it.
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.
Unless conditions change, updates on the McMillan Wildfire Complex will be provided daily at 12:00 pm.
McMillan Wildfire Complex Update June 16th 12:00 pm
We have been lucky enough to receive support from firefighters and support staff from British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick, Parks Canada, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Nevada and Oregon. Thank you to everyone who has assisted in our operations; the support has been incredible!
Today will be good test for firefighters, as increased fire behaviour is likely to persist throughout the complex. Crossover conditions are likely to occur as temperatures are expected to hit 28 degrees with a relative humidity of 25%. These conditions mixed with the existing fire behaviour will allow firefighters to identify hot spots as they continue to work towards perimeter containment.
Winds will be south/southeast, so communities in Trout Lake and Peerless Lake may experience smoke passing through.
Crews will continue to work along the eastern edge of the fire northwest of North Wabasca Lake with support from helicopters and heavy equipment building dozer guard.
Crews and helicopters are also working on the north side of the fire to limit spread to the north and west.
As we continue to work towards containment, laying hose across priority areas and extinguishing all hot spots 30 metres in from the fire perimeter will remain a priority.
Structure protection remains in place in the communities of Trout Lake, Wabasca, and Bigstone Cree Nation.
There are 555 firefighters and support staff, 44 helicopters, airtankers, and 41 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
Of the three wildfires in the McMillan Complex, two are under control and one is out of control. SWF-049 has burned into SWF-079 as these fires were in close proximity to each other.
Note: wildfire sizes are subject to change as more accurate readings of the perimeter become available.
SWF-049 is 265,245 hectares and is classified as out of control.
SWF-078 is 137 hectares and is classified as under control.
SWF-099 is 2 hectares and is classified as under control.
Click here to view a map with imagery and click here for one without imagery of the McMillan Wildfire Complex.
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.
