More than 24,000 residents across Western Canada have been ordered to evacuate their homes to escape active wildfires in the province of Alberta.
As of Saturday, there were 103 Active wildfires in the province, which have burned about 121,909 hectares, roughly 301,243 acres, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said in a news summary Saturday.
Since Friday morning, there have been 45 new wildfires, he said.
Wildfires have increased from the 92 reported on Friday, of which at least 31 are out of control, according to a Press release from the Alberta Emergency Management Agency (AEMA). Of the remaining 61 fires reported Friday, 44 are under control and 17 are being put out and are unlikely to spread. The province has seen an increase of 20 forest fires since Thursday, AEMA reported.
Mandatory evacuations have affected a total of 24,511 people living in northern and central Alberta, including Yellowhead County, Grande Prairie County, and First Nations communities such as Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation and Little Red River Cree. Nation.
Another 5,200 residents are under evacuation alert, including those in Parkland and Saddle Hills counties. Everything is subject to change as this is a «rapidly evolving situation,» Smith said.
blacksmith activated the Cabinet Committee on Emergency Management in response to the bushfires, which has been meeting daily since Friday.
He called the current situation «unprecedented» and assured residents that the government is prepared to use its emergency powers as needed.
«Our top priority is and always will be public safety and we are regularly briefed by the experts managing the response,» Smith said.
All options are on the table, including declaring a provincial state of emergency, Smith added.
«I know all of this is difficult for Albertans, especially those who have been directly affected by these wildfires,» he said.
Fourteen Counties and communities have declared local states of emergency, including Brazeau, Grande Prairie, Parkland and Lac Ste. Anne counties, as well as the Beaver Lake Cree Nation.
One of the largest wildfires reported by EEA known as EWF-031 is located about 26 miles southeast of Edson, a city in west-central Alberta. The fire is 24,000 hectares, more than 59,000 acres, and three helicopter crews were trying to tame the flames from above on Friday, according to the agency.
The bushfire in Fox Lake (HWF-030), an unincorporated community in northern Alberta, was 4,383 hectares, almost 11,000 acres, and has destroyed 20 homes, a police station and a water treatment plant, according to AEMA. On Friday, seven helicopters, two tanker planes and six structural protection teams were working to put out the fire.
Fox Lake is where most of the Little Red River Cree Nation reside, according to the community’s website.
“This is a stark reminder of how unpredictable and powerful bushfires can be,” Stephen Lacroix, EEA managing director, told reporters on Friday. «I ask that you keep the people affected in your thoughts today.»
A province-wide fire ban has been issued due to the current «unusually hot and dry weather» with strong winds making it easy to start and spread wildfires, according to AEMA. This includes any open burning, such as backyard fire pits.
The province has also imposed an off-road vehicle restriction, prohibiting recreational use of the vehicles on public land and designated trails.
There were also several road closures in northern and central Alberta starting Saturday, according to 511.alberta.ca.