ZAMA CITY, Alta. – A tiny remote community in a tinder-dry region of northwestern Alberta has been evacuated because of an encroaching forest fire.
A mandatory evacuation order was issued shortly after 9:30 p.m. Tuesday for the hamlet of Zama City, about 930 kilometres north of Edmonton.
John Klassen, director of operations for Mackenzie County, says the order came after the wind shifted and started pushing the 20-square-kilometre blaze toward the hamlet, about 10 kilometres away.
Klassen says within about six hours, between 150 and 200 permanent residents and transient workers had moved safely to the community of High Level, Alta., about 140 kilometres to the southeast.
The evacuees were asked to register at the town hall and are currently being put up in motels in High Level.
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Klassen says emergency firefighting crews are standing by in Zama City in case the fire reaches the community.
Firefighting efforts continue by Environment and
Sustainable Resource Development, assisted by firefighters from
Mackenzie County.
Zama City Fire:
Strong winds last evening pushed the fire to within 10 kilometers of
the hamlet. The fire is estimated to have burned more than 100,000
hectares; however, heavy smoke is preventing an accurate estimate of
its size at this time. Sixty additional firefighters are now joining
aircraft, firefighters and various pieces of heavy equipment already on
scene in the efforts to contain the fire. The community completed a
FireSmart plan in 2009 and has built a fire guard near the community
which is helping firefighters. The fire guard consists of a cleared
area to slow the spread of fire.
La Crete Fire:
The fire is currently located about 15 kilometers southeast of La
Crete and is estimated at 1,000 hectares. There are 100 firefighters,
five helicopters and various pieces of heavy equipment on scene to help
contain the fire.
Lutose Fire:
The fire is currently located about 30 kilometers north of Meander
River and is estimated at 1,600 hectares. There are 100 firefighters,
four helicopters and various pieces of heavy equipment on scene to
contain the fire.
All firefighting resources that were sent to assist other
jurisdictions were recalled to Alberta and have been pre-positioned to
respond to new wildfires. Environment and Sustainable Resource
Development is currently assessing if any assistance will be required
from other provinces or territories.
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