An out-of-control wildfire burning about 35 kilometres northwest of Sundre in Clearwater County prompted an emergency alert to be issued ahead of the May long weekend.
All campers, backcountry users and travellers in the area near the junction of highways 734 and 584 were advised Thursday night to leave immediately.
Sundre RCMP also confirmed blockades have been set up on roads within a 10-kilometre radius of the fire to prevent anyone from entering the area.
“That one is in the vicinity of some very popular camping areas so we are trying to be mindful of those who are headed out for the May long weekend,” said Alberta Wildfire information officer Melissa Story.
“We want to remind people that there is an active, out-of-control, wildfire in that area and to stay clear of it.”
“The location of the wildfire is about five kilometers from the James Wilson Provincial Recreation Area and it’s about 35 kilometers west of Sundre,” Story added.
Nearby residents have also been told to prepare for evacuation if needed.
“I’m concerned, I’m scared. I am worried — all the negative feelings you can think of are going through my mind,” Miroslava Kirov said on Friday.
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She and her husband Pavel live in Bearberry, a rural area about 13 kilometres east of the fire. They have their suitcases packed and ready to go if needed.
“The police were here yesterday. We thought we would have to leave at night you know but it didn’t happen so we had a very restless night,” said Kirov.
“I was waking up by the hour — I was watching from the window and going on the back porch there and said, ‘if there is a glow in the sky, that’s it. We have to go.'”
“I have paradise here and I don’t want to lose it,” said her husband Pavel.
“But I don’t think that something is going to happen — so many people, equipment, everything 3 they’ll take of this.”
A little further to the east, residents of Sundre are also keeping a very close eye on the fire.
“Mountain View County put on a full-scale fire ban (and) right away today we followed suit and put on a full fire ban, so we’re not going to add to the issues,” said Mayor Richard Warnock.
“We do have an emergency plan prepared if we have to activate, but at this stage, with the fire being 30 kilometers to the west, we feel pretty safe and comfortable where we are.”
Warnock estimates the fire would need to be within 15 to 20 kilometres of the town before they’d consider any evacuations.
There have also been numerous reports from people living in communities as far away as Carstairs — about 80 km to the east — that they can see and smell smoke from the fire.
Residents near Rocky Mountain House could also see the smoke and once nightfall came Thursday, see the orange glow of the flames.
Late Thursday afternoon, the fire was estimated to be approximately 130 hectares (1.3 square kilometres or 320 acres) in size, but by Friday morning, it had grown substantially due to winds.
“That wildfire is over 1,000 hectares (10 square kilometres or 2,500 acres) in size,” said Story.
“It started yesterday (Thursday) afternoon and it grew due to the significant wind speeds we were seeing in the area — the winds were gusting up to 65 kilometers an hour which grew the wildfire behavior and grew the size of the fire.”
However, winds were much more “subdued” on Friday, added Story, which means the growth of the fire has slowed.
And with lower temperatures and higher humidity in the forecast for the long weekend, Story said crews are “hoping to get the upper hand.”
Alberta Wildfire said ground crews, helicopters and other aircraft — when smoke conditions allow — are all being used to fight the flames.
Well Sean because oil and gas isnt responsible for wildfires, it is usually econut arsonists and the government itself.
But the biggest reason for large scale wildfires is this obsession with putting every fire out. Poor forest managment including the lack of controlled burns is why wildfires are a problem, not because we need more electric cars.
We should have the homeless clearing the deadfall and pine beetle trees. Qualified fellers cut the trees, homeless skid, them out with rescue horses + stack and load trucks. The wood is sold for firewood or used to generate electricity. House the homeless in atco trailers where they can get addictions treatment + 3 hots and a cot.
Now that we’re looking at another brutal wildfire season why don’t we double down on dirty energy and build another massive pipeline?