EDMONTON – Officials in Strathcona County say a large grass fire in a subdivision east of Sherwood Park is now under control but fire crews are expected to stay at the scene overnight since strong winds could cause flare-ups.
Strathcona County RCMP and Strathcona County Emergency Services (SCES) were alerted to a large grass fire threatening homes at the Wye Haven and Aspen View subdivisions near Highway 630 and Range Road 213 at 1:30 p.m. on Monday.
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No evacuations were ordered but thick smoke caused by the fire prompted RCMP to close Highway 630 in both directions between Range Road 211 and Range Road 213. A county official said he expects the highway to reopen sometime Monday evening.
“We didn’t consider any evacuations that were necessary,” Deputy Chief Bob Scott of Strathcona County Emergency Services said. “The only homeowners that were in the path of the fire were aware of the fire.
“Some of them were actually out fighting the fire to protect their property – working with the firefighters – and we didn’t need to evacuate or issue an evacuation order downwind.”
The blaze is being fought using several brush trucks, tankers and crews and 28 firefighters were called to the scene.
Scott said no injuries have been reported and no buildings have been lost.
READ MORE: Grass fire forces evacuation of school on Alberta first nation
An SCES spokesperson said its Regional Dispatch Centre is also currently involved in a number of large wildfires in neighbouring municipalities including Lamont, Beaver, Minburn and Wetaskiwin.
Lamont County has asked the Alberta Agriculture and Forestry’s wildfire management branch for help by providing air support.
Viewers have been sending photos of a large grass fire near Mundare, which is in Lamont County.
“Only a couple of days ago in this region, the fire risk was moderate,” Scott said. “Just in the past 24 hours, with the weather and the warm temperatures, the dry winds, the fire risk has increased to high and with the forecast that we heard today, we expect the fire weather index to actually increase to very high.”
“It’d be safe to say that yes at this point we’ll be issuing a fire ban.”
For the latest status on wildfires and fire bans across Alberta, visit the Alberta fire bans website.
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