High Level Forest Area

High Level Forest Area - June 03, 2025

HWF036 (Sousa Creek Wildfire) 

The Sousa Creek Wildfire is between the towns of Rainbow Lake and High Level, near the Chateh turnoff, and along both sides of Highway 58. This wildfire, which is out of control and estimated to cover 33,000 hectares (ha), remains the highest priority fire within the forest area.

It is located (approximately):

• 6.5 km from the southern edge of the community (reserve area) of Chateh
• 71.5 km from the western edge of the Town of High Level
• 29.5 km from the eastern edge of the Town of Rainbow Lake

Additional firefighting resources

Some additional resources have arrived, including a 20-person fire crew from the Spokane, Washington area (with an additional crew expected to arrive later today); an S61 heavy helicopter, which can carry at least twice the amount of water (for bucketing) as a medium; additional heavy equipment, and an incident management team that is being established to oversee planning, operations and logistical support for ground crews, aircraft and heavy equipment operators working to suppress this wildfire.   

Heavy equipment operators continue to build containment line east of the Chateh turnoff, along the northeastern fire perimeter, near the Sousa Creek. Firefighters with helicopter support continue to work along established containment lines on the northern and northwest sides. Air tanker support is available, when required and when conditions are suitable. 

There appears to have been some minor growth on the north and northeastern side. The eastern side of the fire has reached the western boundary of the 2023 Bassett fire, where a containment line was established. There has been little growth within this 2023 fire perimeter, beyond the containment line. 

Structure protection has been deployed within the community of Chateh, and power to the Town of Rainbow Lake and Chateh is not currently impacted. ATCO crews continue to work on repairing damaged powerline infrastructure within the fire. Telus has completed repair work on communication infrastructure, which had been damaged, to reestablish communications for the Town of Rainbow Lake. 

Travellers on Highway 58 should expect delays or intermittent closures (please check 511 for updates). The cause of this wildfire remains under investigation.

HWF037 

This wildfire is within the Buffalo Head Hills, about 33 km west of the community of Tall Cree First Nation South. It is out of control at about 940 ha.

Heavy equipment is now working to build a containment line around this wildfire with a current focus on the south side. This will be followed by work on the eastern side – along a corridor between two previously burned areas that is stalling growth to the east-southeast. Fire crews are set to be on the ground today to support overall efforts to suppress this wildfire. There is currently no threat to communities, and its cause is under investigation.

HWF040

This wildfire, which is east of the La Crete Ferry and just south of Highway 697, is now being held at about 395 ha. With the progress made on this wildfire, crews have been able to remove the structure protection previously put in place and evacuated residents have returned home.

Travellers on Highway 697 should expect delays (please check 511 for updates). The cause of this wildfire remains under investigation.

Smoke from wildfire on the Alberta-B.C. border 

Residents and others on the western side of the HLFA may see smoke from a wildfire (HBZ001) currently burning along the provincial border. The HLFA Fire Centre is in regular contact with its B.C. counterpart to monitor this wildfire. The Government of Canada also monitors smoke conditions across the country.

In 2025, there have been 45 wildfires in the HLFA to date, burning more than 34,000 ha.

To view wildfires on a map and for live updates, download the Alberta Wildfire App or visit the Alberta Wildfire Dashboard. Learn more about wildfire status definitions used in Alberta.

Lightning-caused wildfires

Lightning-caused wildfires are a common natural occurrence in Alberta, accounting for approximately 37% of the wildfires that occur each year, on average. These wildfires often start in remote areas when lightning strikes dry vegetation, such as grass and trees, which can facilitate a quick start. Since these starts are often located far from roads or communities, they can easily go unnoticed. 

Alberta Wildfire closely monitors lightning activity using resources such as aerial surveillance and fire lookout observers to detect and respond to these wildfires as quickly as possible. Many fire detections are also reported by the public.

As an example, several of the very recent wildfires starts detected in the Slave Lake Forest Area have been determined to have been caused by lightning.

All forest areas have firefighters and equipment ready to respond. Please call 310-FIRE if you see smoke or flames and suspect it's a wildfire. Learn more about how to report a wildfire.