UPDATED at 4:10 p.m. May 18, 2023:
An Evacuation Notice is in effect for parts of Brazeau County.
According to Alberta Emergency Alert, residents within the defined area must be ready to evacuate within 30 minutes. The evacuation order or mandatory evacuation, however, has been lifted for all areas in Brazeau County.
(Brazeau County)
If you are returning home, drive with caution. Follow Drayton Valley and Brazeau County social media for updates and resources on re-entry.
According to Brazeau County on May 18, 2023:
“Please be aware that fire is still active in the area that is being assessed by fire crews on a regular basis. Crews are monitoring fire areas 24 hours a day and will respond accordingly in the event of a direct threat.
We are currently receiving a high volume of calls for several known fire areas that are of low priority as we continue to secure and extinguish higher priority areas:
- East of Range Road 80, south of Township Road 491 to Rex Drive.
- West of Highway 620, from Highway 22 to Township Road 485.
- Range Road 71 from Township Road 490 to Township Road 484
If you see fire activity that is not a direct threat (30 metres from structures) and not in these areas, please call 780-202-FIRE (3473). At this time, we request you only call 911 for direct threats to structures (30 metres away). Due to the scope and scale of the fire, sustained action will be required for this event over the coming months.
Thank you for continuing to give our crews space to work safely. Please remember active fire zones are extremely dangerous even if you don’t see smoke or flame. Please keep clear of these areas.
For more information and resources on protecting your home please visit, https://firesmartcanada.ca/.
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The Mandatory Evacuation Order for the Town of Valleyview has been downgraded to an Evacuation Alert as of noon Thursday. This means residents may re-enter the Town starting at 12:00 p.m., May 18, 2023.
According to Alberta Emergency Alert, this alert is in effect for everyone in the Town of Valleyview. However, be prepared to evacuate the community within four hours if conditions change.
Heavy smoke remains present, affecting visibility. Motorists are advised to exercise caution while driving. Those with respiratory or mobility issues are advised to seek medical advice prior to re-entry. Visit valleyview.ca for re-entry information.
According to Alberta Wildfire on May 18, 2023:
- Wildfire GWF-023 is located approximately 10 km northeast of Valleyview. It is classifies as out of control at 3,693 hectares.
Click here for a message from Valleyview’s mayor.
Click here for a message from Danny McCallum, Fire Chief, Valleyview Fire Department.
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A Wildfire Alert remains in place for a southern portion of Woodlands County.
According to Alberta Emergency Alert, this alert is in effect for everyone in the area:
North of Township Rd 561, west of Range Road 120, south of Groat Creek Road, Twp Rd 584 west of the McLeod River, to RR 144 east of the McLeod River, to RR 123 at Whitecourt Mountain.
There is a wildfire south of Township Road 570, west of RR 123, north of Twp Rd 560 and east of Shining Bank. No evacuation is required currently. However, with worsening weather conditions, this fire could force evacuation of the affected area.
Everyone in the affected area must prepare for a possible evacuation. Gather pets, important documents and medication, enough food, water and supplies for at least three days. This alert will be updated if an evacuation is required. Stay tuned to www.alberta.ca/emergencyalert, local media for updates.
Additional information: Zone-1-EWF035-11-May-2023.png, http://alberta.ca/BePrepared, https://woodlands.ab.ca/
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A Wildfire Alert remains in place for Carrot Creek, Niton, and the Mackay areas of Yellowhead County.
According to Alberta Emergency Alert, the Evacuation Alert is for everyone in the area:
North of Highway 16 to south of Township Rd 550, east of Highway 32 to west of Highway 751. This includes the community of Niton Junction.
Residents in this area need to prepare to evacuate. There is a wildfire east of Shining Bank Lake. Please call 1-833-334-4630 for more information.
Everyone in the affected area must prepare for a possible evacuation. Gather pets, important documents, medication, food, water, supplies for at least three days. This alert will be updated if an evacuation is required. Go to www.alberta.ca/emergencyalert, for updates.
Additional information: Niton-Area-AEA-Evacuation-ALERT-Map-May-16.jpeg
An Evacuation Order remains in effect for areas east of Shining Bank Lake.
According to Alberta Emergency Alert, the Evacuation Order is for everyone in the area:
North of Township Rd 550, east of Highway 32, south of Township Rd 570, east to Range Rd 130, south to Township Rd 561, and west of Range Rd 120.
Residents in this area need to evacuate. There is a wildfire east of Shining Bank Lake. The established evacuation routes are:
South on Range Rd 130; south on Highway 32; west on Highway 748; or south on Highway 751.
The Shining Bank Reception Centre will be at the Holiday Inn in Edson at 4520 2 Ave. Evacuees can register at the Reception Centre.
Reception Centre hours for the weekend:
Friday, May 19 – Monday, May 22
- Open 8:00 am
- Closed 7:00 pm
For after-hours assistance, please call 1-833-334-4630.
Everyone in the affected area needs to evacuate. Gather pets, important documents, medication, food, water, supplies for at least three days.
Go to www.alberta.ca/emergencyalert, local media for updates.
Additional information: Shiningbank-AEA-Evacuation-ORDER-Map-May-14-Hwy-32.jpeg
Watch: Information Session for Yellowhead County Residents, May 18, 2023, 2:00 p.m.
“This will be an information session for current evacuees and all Yellowhead County residents. The meeting will include an update from Mayor Wade Williams and Yellowhead County CAO Luc Mercier.”
Please call 1-833-334-4630 for more information.
According to Alberta Wildfire on May 18, 2023:
- Wildfires WCU-001 and WCU-002 are in the area of Evansburg, Entwistle, Wildwood, Lobstick and Hansonville. They are classified as out of control 7,281 hectares (WCU001) and 2,401 hectares (WCU002).
- Wildfire EWF-035 is located 3 km southeast of Shining Bank and is classified as out of control at 5,952 hectares.
- Wildfire EWF-031 is located 25 km west of Lodgepole, 20 km northwest of Brazeau Dam and 14 km southeast of Edson. It is still classified as out of control at 82,666 hectares.
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An Evacuation Order is still in effect for the Town of Swan Hills.
Officials with Alberta Emergency Alert say Wildfire SWF 063 is in a similar position as Wednesday, still encroaching the town from the northwest.
Reminder to evacuees that there is currently no re-entry into the community at this time. A reception center is set up and located at the Barrhead Agrena located at 5607 47 Street in Barrhead. All evacuees are encouraged to register at the reception center. To register by phone call 1-825-977-4382 or 1-825-977-1462. Follow www.alberta.ca/emergencyalert and local media for updates.
According to Alberta Wildfire on May 18, 2023:
- Wildfire SWF-064 is located over 40 km northwest of Swan Hills, is classified as out of control and has burned approximately 22,220 hectares.
According to the Town of Swan Hills on May 18, 2023:
“The Town of Swan Hills has activated the Emergency Management Team at the Incident Command Centre in Swan Hills. Wildfire teams, local fire department as well as departments from neighboring communities are diligently working to keep our community safe.
We urge evacuees to register either at the reception centre at the Barrhead Agrena or by phone at 1-825-977-4382 or 1-825-977-1462.
We thank our residents for their cooperation and to all of our partners and the personnel at the Barrhead Reception centre for all their help.”
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An Evacuation Order remains in effect for parts of the Municipal District of Greenview.
According to Alberta Emergency Alert, the alert is in effect for Fox Creek to Little Smoky and all areas immediately surrounding these communities up to Highway 947.
A wildfire has forced the evacuation of the entire Town of Fox Creek, Hamlet of Little Smoky and surrounding areas. If you are in the affected area, evacuate immediately to Whitecourt on Highway 43.
A reception Centre is located at the Allan and Jean Millar Centre 58 Sunset Blvd in Whitecourt. Evacuees are required to register.
For highway closures, check 511. Stay tuned to local media or call 780-524-6584 for assistance.
Residents between Township Road 683 and 670 and Range Road 232 and 211 must prepare to evacuate on a 1-hour notice.
According to Alberta Wildfire on May 18, 2023:
- Wildfire WWF-023 is located 1 km from Fox Creek and 10.5 km from Little Smoky. It is classified as out of control at 55,020 hectares.
- GWF-027 is located in the M.D. Greenview and is classified as out of control at 19,036 hectares.
According to the MD of Greenview on May 18, 2023:
“Highway 43 is closed in both directions between Little Smoky and Fox Creek due to poor visibility. Please use caution while travelling in the area, expect delays and use your headlights while in the area. For up-to-date road closures, please visit https://511.alberta.ca/#:Alerts.
All Greenview facilities (with the exception of the Greenview Regional Multiplex) will reopen back to regular operating hours on Friday, May 19, 2023.”
Additional information: LittleSmoky_Fire_EvacMay2023-New.jpg, http://www.alberta.ca/emergencyalert, http://www.alberta.ca/BePrepared, https://mdgreenview.ab.ca/, https://511.alberta.ca/
