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Forest fires burn across Alberta

Forest fires burn across Alberta - image

EDMONTON – Low humidity, warm temperatures and dry ground have created perfect conditions for fast-moving wildfires, says the province.

As of Saturday evening, 73 wildfires were burning across Alberta, said Rob Harris, a fire information officer with Sustainable Resource Development. Twenty-seven of these fires were out of control.

Most of the fires were in the Slave Lake, Whitecourt and Edson areas, where tinder-dry conditions have been aggravated by low humidity levels, Harris said.

On Saturday, humidity levels were below 15 per cent, while the temperatures hovered at around 20 C, creating ideal conditions for extreme and erratic wildfires.

One fire that prompted the evacuation of a provincial park has now been contained.

On Saturday evening, Rocky Mountain House RCMP were advised of a forest fire in Crimson Lake Provincial Park, about 100 kilometres north west of Red Deer. Wildfire assessors flew over the area and requested an immediate evacuation of the park.

The fire was under control by about 10 p.m. and homeowners were allowed back into the park. The fire damaged power lines but did not cause any structural damage, but the RCMP said the fire burnt about 50 hectares of land before it was brought under control.

As of Saturday evening, the largest fire in Alberta was burning over 500 hectares in the Slave Lake area.

The fire was reported Saturday afternoon, said Harris, and spread to about 500 hectares within two to three hours. On Saturday night, the Town of Slave Lake declared a local state of emergency due to the wildfires.

Residents were evacuated from communities east of Slave Lake, including Mitsue and Poplar Estates.

Ten buildings in the Poplar Estates and Mitsue areas have been affected by the fire.

The dry, windy conditions are expected to last until at least Monday, Harris said.

Edmonton Journal

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