Update 6: Alberta wildfire information update: (July 10, 3:30 p.m.)

by ahnationtalk on July 11, 202452 Views

Jul 10, 2024

As of July 10, at 1 p.m. there is one Alberta Emergency Alert in effect:
- An evacuation order is in place for Little Red River Cree Nation – Garden River.
- Currently, the community is not in immediate danger; however, Highway 58 access remains a concern, resulting in the evacuation order.
- Residents of Garden River are asked to evacuate to the Horizon Camp at John D’Or Prairie.
For up-to-the-minute Alberta Emergency Alert information visit: Alberta Emergency Alert.
Albertans are encouraged to download the Alberta Emergency Alert mobile app which immediately pushes all alerts out to subscribers.

Current situation

There are currently 63 active wildfires in Alberta.
For the latest information on wildfires in Alberta visit, Alberta wildfire status.
Alberta Emergency Alerts:
- 1 evacuation order
Number of evacuees: about 700
Evacuation orders are currently in affect for:
- Little Red River Cree Nation – Garden River
  - There is a wildfire approximately 8.5 km north of Highway 58.
  - The nation is encouraging evacuees to go to the Horizon Camp at John D’or Prairie, Alberta, where support will be available.
  - The response is being led by local authorities on the First Nation with Alberta Emergency Management Agency First Nations field officers providing support.
- No other evacuation orders or alerts are currently in place.
As a result of extreme heat conditions, there are fire restrictions and bans in place across much of the province. For more information, visit Albertafirebans.ca.
Current year wildfires by suspected cause:
- Human: 422 (Human-caused wildfires cover several different categories – everything from recreational fires to agricultural incidents to wildfires caused by people on residential land. Human-caused wildfires account for more than half of all wildfires annually.)
- Lightning: 127
- Under investigation: 108

Fire ban in place for Forest Protection Area

Due to increasing wildfire danger and many active wildfires across the province, Alberta’s government is implementing a fire ban for the entire Forest Protection Area at 4:00 p.m.

All fire permits issued by Alberta’s government are now suspended or cancelled, and no new fire permits will be issued while the ban is in place. Certain allowances can be made for essential agricultural or industrial burning, but only when approved by a forest officer.

Under this ban, all outdoor wood fires, including wood campfires on public land, private land, designated campgrounds and backyard firepits are strictly prohibited in the Forest Protection Area. In addition to these restrictions, Albertans may not use a charcoal briquette barbeque, fireworks or exploding targets. It is crucial that Albertans avoid any activities that fall under this ban to prevent new wildfires from breaking out.

Albertans play an important role in keeping our province safe this wildfire season. If you see a wildfire, report it immediately by calling 310-FIRE. And remember, over the past five years, 67 per cent of wildfires have been caused by human activity, meaning prevention is a shared responsibility.

Roads and highways

Garden River is not in any immediate danger; however, the Highway 58 access to Garden River is the concern.
There are currently no highway closures.
Visit 511.alberta.ca for up-to-date information on road closures and travel advisories.

Health care

There are currently no hospital closures.

Education

There are currently no school closures.

Emergency preparedness

Albertans should download the Alberta Emergency Alert app to make sure they receive critical information about an immediate situation, where it is happening and what actions they can take to stay safe.
To prepare for an evacuation, Albertans should consider creating a family emergency plan, pack an emergency kit with a minimum of 72 hours worth of supplies including medication and important travel documents, make a plan for their pets, review insurance policies, ensure they have some cash on hand, and keeping vehicles fueled or arranging for transportation in advance.
Albertans are also encouraged to sign up for an Alberta.ca account so they can access services and supports through the government, in the event they are evacuated.
There are many resources available at Alberta.ca/BePrepared to help Albertans get started.
Read more about emergency preparedness.

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