There are two wildfires of note in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta.
Fire number: RWF038
Status: Out of Control
Size: 507 hectares (ha)
Location: 19 km west of Nordegg
Infrastructure nearby: Provincial Recreation Areas
Resources assigned: Four air tanker groups, seven helicopters, one dozer group, Incident Management Team, Structural Protection Specialist and crews, 78 wildland firefighters.
Comments:
This wildfire is located approximately 19 kilometres west of Nordegg and is classified as Out of Control. It was discovered on July 19.
Today, airtankers and helicopters will continue to work on the wildfire from the air. We have heavy equipment that started work overnight to gain access to the fire. They will continue to gain ground access and build a fire guard. There will be helicopters, heavy equipment, and wildland firefighters working on the wildfire.
Weather conditions are expected to be more favorable on the fire today, with temperatures forecast to reach 22-24°C and relative humidity around 30%. Winds are expected to be gusting from the southeast at around 10 km/h changing to southwest later in the day.
An evacuation order for Snow Creek PRA, Dry Haven PRA, Centre for Outdoor Education, Fish Lake PRA, Frontier Lodge and Goldeye Lake PRA has been issued by Clear Water County. A 2-hour evacuation alert is also issued for the hamlet of Nordegg. For information of evacuations, please visit emergencyalert.alberta.ca or download the Alberta Emergency Alert app.
This information will be updated, as required, by 11 a.m.
Fire number: MWF031
Status: Being held
Size: 44,953 hectares (ha)
Location: 21 km north of Fort Chipewyan
Infrastructure nearby: Remote cabins
Resources assigned: Incident Management Team, ignition specialist, structure protection specialist and crews, 45 wildfire fighters and six helicopters.
Comments:
This wildfire remains on the edge of Flett Lake and is growing to the east. The current estimated size of the wildfire is 44,953 ha. The cause of the wildfire was lightning. It does not threaten any communities at this time. The fire has not grown towards the south and therefore has not gotten closer to Fort Chipewyan or the airport.
Firefighters continue to work on strengthening the containment lines to the northern and eastern flank of the fire. While growth has happened to the east, the south containment line is still a priority. Resources are being deployed to the north and east flanks to help strengthen containment on that side. They continue to be assisted by helicopter bucketing operations.
Another group of firefighters has completed structure protection. They continue to maintain equipment such as pumps, hoses and sprinkler systems on buildings identified as being directly threatened by the wildfire. The structure protection plan for Fort Chipewyan, Allison Bay and Dog Head is complete.
Temperatures today are expected to be a max of 20C and the relative humidity will be around 35%. Winds are expected to come from the northwest at 10 km/h, which is expected to push the fire northwest. Inversions are expected to develop overnight but should break by 11 am, allowing the smoke to dissipate.
Today, firefighters and helicopters will continue their indirect attack on the wildfire. A total of 45 firefighters and six helicopters are assigned to wildfire MWF031 and stationed in Fort Chipewyan. Additional aircraft are available if needed in Fort McMurray.
Local aircraft operators, please be advised that a “notice to airmen” NOTAM is in effect for the area surrounding wildfire MWF031.
This information will be updated, as required, by 11 a.m.
A wildfire of note is determined to be of significant public interest and may pose a threat to public safety, communities or critical infrastructure.
Wildfires of note do not typically include mutual aid wildfires located outside of the Forest Protection Area of Alberta. Alberta Wildfire provides assistance on a mutual aid wildfire but is not the lead agency.
The Forest Protection Area of Alberta is divided into ten forest areas. Find the latest updates for each area or subscribe to receive them in your inbox.
Rocky Mountain House Forest Area