Some people who live in Evansburg, Entwistle and Parkland County west of Highway 22 were allowed to return home Tuesday at noon after being forced out by a wildfire on the weekend.
“These residents are now safe to return to their homes,” a post on Parkland County’s website read. “Highway 16 will be open for Parkland County and Evansburg residents returning to their homes.”
The evacuation order remains in place for those west of Range Road 65 to Highway 22, north of Township Road 530 to Highway 16.
Yellowhead County Mayor Wade Williams said residents were given an update on the evacuation at a 10:30 a.m. meeting at the Edson and District Leisure Centre.
“The fire that is in the Parkland County area, they have a good handle on that and it’s no longer a threat to the Evansburg area,” he said.
Those who live in the Wildwood area are not being allowed to return, Williams said, and will have to wait at least until at least Wednesday, potentially longer.
“The fire is still burning and it’s burning to the south now, which is in the direction of Wildwood. It is still a way’s out of Wildwood so smoke is still a factor in that area but we don’t want to allow people back in until we know that we have a good handle on that fire and that it’s not going to reach that community.”
He said there were people from Entwistle, Evansburg and Wildwood at the meeting.
“We have a mixed crowd. We’ve got people from Entwistle and Evansburg that are very happy because they can return home.
“We still had to give the residents of Wildwood the bad news that they could not return home so it’s mixed feelings in there and I get it. People are displaced from their homes — that’s tough on people. Stress level is up … We’re doing the best we can to get things under control and get people back,” Williams said.
Officials are using the Lobstick River as a water source and have two large pumping units set up to run water in different directions. They are shooting water into the wind to try to keep the area wet. Firefighters also have hoses and a sprinkler line of defence.
Everyone who’s left their home must register by calling the evacuation information number at 1-833-334-4630.
The corresponding Alberta Emergency Alerts were updated or cancelled at noon on Tuesday.
Tamara Matalski lives in Wildwood and is still waiting for the word she can return home. Since the region was evacuated, she and her baby Harper have been staying with friends in Edson.
“We’re allowed to go back to Entwistle so I am going to go to my mom’s. As far as I know, were not probably going to be able to go back until maybe tomorrow or the next day.
“It’s pretty scary,” Matalski said. “It’s pretty scary stuff.
“It’s the first time in my whole life that Wildwood been evacuated. We’ve never really had a fire that close to us before.”
Matalski said she and her husband have animals and she’s been worried about them.
“It’s hard.”
Yellowhead County officials said temporary access to the Wildwood evacuation zone is being granted to people who still have livestock, pets or critical medical requirements. Residents can apply for a permit by calling 1-833-334-4630 or in person at the Edson and District Leisure Centre. Then, by presenting a form to RCMP at the check stop, residents can gain temporary access to their homes and property between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Bevan Ayotte and his girlfriend Tiffany lost their family farm in Entwistle to the Parkland County wildfire.
They had just returned home from a funeral Saturday night and “the rear quarter of the farm was on fire.”
Ayotte said RCMP showed up very quickly after that. He said he and his girlfriend had about 30 minutes to grab what they could and pack up all their animals. They have several special needs cats, rabbits, a farm dog and a chinchilla.
“The police officers were helping us put the animals into vehicles. I had just finished with the rabbits. We got in the cars and we were basically being chased out,” he said.
“When we first got there it looked like (the fire) was a little way’s off and it was moving in quickly,” Ayotte said.
“The best way I can describe it is if I looked directly at the fire, the wind was blistering towards me … I’d say when it went from: ‘We don’t have any information,’ to: ‘You have to leave,’ it was about 10 minutes.
“It was wild. It was really, really intense.”
The couple dropped their animals off with loved ones and checked into a hotel late Saturday night. On Sunday morning, Ayotte was able to check on the farm.
“I was close. There was no smoke. There was no burnt anything. I turn the corner to where it’s probably a half click from my place and I’m starting to see a little bit of burn here or there, but not much. The neighbour’s house is fine. The other neighbour’s house is fine. I’m positive that I’m OK.
“I made my way around the corner, and to be honest I didn’t think I was in the right spot. You’re imagining a house burned down but it was so much more. It was fences, gardens. It doesn’t even look remotely where I was trying to be. It was to the ground — everything. Barns, every shed, anything on that property — gone.”
Ayotte said he’s so grateful no lives have been lost and there’s been minimal structural damage. Still, he says, he and his girlfriend are sad to have lost memories and mementos.
“It’s a family farm. They’ve had it for generations. A lot of history was lost for sure. Those are the things that really can’t be replaced.
“A lot of stuff that we wished we had a moment to grab … A laptop with family pictures. My girlfriend’s father passed away a few years ago and she lost all the pictures or any remnants of him.
“My girlfriend is taking it very hard and rightfully so. She lost a lot,” Ayotte said. “We were working towards a life there that we’d been building for a long time now and it’s gone.”
A friend has set up a GoFundMe page for the couple and their animals. Ayotte says they hope to buy a camper and begin rebuilding life again on the property.
“We just want to be back there.”
Another family, Earle and Viona Cunningham, had their home of many years burnt down. Courtney Hansen, a family friend, said this has had a huge impact on the couple and their family.
“They spent 40 years building a homestead there.
“Sunday morning the wildfire essentially just made a beeline for their property so the whole home, the shop, all the out buildings are gone. I think the only thing still standing is the barn at this time.”
The family was able to grab some toiletries and clothes, but they didn’t expect the fire to reach their home, so they have lost all of their belongings.
“I know that they were unable to locate one of their pet cats the night that they were evacuated and we don’t know if it’s made it.”
They were able to get all their cows and chickens to safety.
Their tenant, John Collins and his daughter Lily lived in their attached suite. They also lost everything.
The Cunningham’s son’s home is still being threatened by the fire.
Viona and her husband have made plans to go home and rebuild when it is safe to do so.
“I’ve lived here so long. I love my community and the people here really came together and did everything they could to help. We had neighbours and friends out helping even while their own houses were potentially at risk. People I didn’t even know helped rescue my cows after the farm burned. The outpouring of support and the many people who came together and helped us salvage what we could and offered help in any way that they could is what really makes us belong here.”
The community has also set up GoFundMe pages for the Cunningham family and the Collins family.
Yellowhead County (Evansburg) wildfire
As of Tuesday, the wildfire in Yellowhead County (WCU002) was 2,386 hectares in size, burning about seven kilometres northwest of Evasburg on both sides of Highway 22, three kilometres north of Highway 16.
This fire is considered out of control.
Nearby infrastructure includes scattered farms and residences, Highway 16 and the Hamlet of Evansburg.
There are 31 wildland firefighters battling this blaze, along with six helicopters, two heavy bucketing helicopters and 10 pieces of heavy equipment. Additional firefighters are expected to arrive later Tuesday.
“There were northeast winds over the wildfire,” Alberta Wildfire said in a Tuesday morning update. “Firefighters conducted successful controlled burn operations yesterday. Bulldozer lines are complete from peat farms in the area to the Lobstick River on the south flank.”
Alberta Wildfire assumed command for the incident Monday night.
A structural protection unit was deployed at the wildfire and is working with Yellowhead County.
An evacuation order is in place for some parts of Yellowhead County, including for everyone in Wildwood, Lobstick and areas around North, East and South Chip Lake.
The latest Alberta Emergency Alerts are listed and updated here.
Parkland County (Entwistle) wildfire
As of Tuesday, the wildfire in Parkland County (WCU001) was 330 hectares in size, burning about nine kilometres southeast of Entwistle.
The fire is considered out of control.
Nearby infrastructure includes Trestle Creek Golf Course, scattered farms, Highway 16 and the communities of Entwistle and Evansburg.
Alberta Wildfire has three helicopters and three bulldozers assigned to the wildfire.
Bulldozers have established a fireguard around 70 per cent of the wildfire, Alberta Wildfire officials said Tuesday.
Airtankers worked along the west and northwest side of the wildfire.
“Weather conditions are expected to remain hot and dry with winds. The fire danger is high for the area today.”
Over the weekend, about 800 people were forced to leave their homes in Evansburg in Yellowhead County and about 500 from Entwistle in Parkland County after fires broke out on either side of the communities along the Pembina River.
At 2:15 p.m. Monday, an Alberta emergency alert was issued for Wildwood in Yellowhead County. Residents of the hamlet of Wildwood and areas surrounding Chip Lake were told to leave the area Monday afternoon.