About 100 fires were active in the province around 8 p.m. Friday, according to the Alberta Wildfire website. Of these fires, 32 were still uncontrolled.
In a video on Twitter, outgoing Prime Minister Danielle Smith urged residents in areas affected by active fires to listen to local authorities and obey their evacuation orders.
Danielle Smith also points out that several Alberta regions are under fire bans and everyone’s safety is at stake. She points out that there are restrictions on off-road vehicles.
“These restrictions are not optional. »
– A quote from Danielle Smith, the outgoing Prime Minister of Alberta
On Friday, Danielle Smith activated her company’s emergency committee. A vote is scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m. in Calgary.
Lots of fires
A fire has prompted an evacuation order in Yellowhead County, which stretches from Marlboro to far eastern county, including the city of Edson. The area is bounded by Route 550 to the north and Route 520 to the south.
The district is asking evacuees to head west to Hinton or Jasper.
East of Edmonton in Strathcona County, a large bushfire burns near Highway 534 and Highway 220. An evacuation order has been issued for people in the area, including Pleasant Estates View Estates and Newton Estates.
A second bushfire has been reported south of Sherwood Park, including the Silver Birch Estates and Colchester Lane areas. Residents of this area should be prepared to leave their homes 30 minutes after an evacuation order.
A drop-in center has opened at the Strathcona County Community Center in Sherwood Park.
The spread of wildfires and bushfires in the Drayton Valley area prompted Brazeau County to expand the area covered by the evacuation order.
Plumes of smoke near the Drayton Valley.
Photo: Radio Canada / Jocelyn Boissonneault
The 1,500-acre blaze crossed Highway 22 and is 2 kilometers from the southern edge of the Drayton Valley, according to Wildfire Alberta. The fire was out of control and very dangerous, said Tom Thomson, Drayton Valley and Brazeau County Fire Chief.
According to him, the main concern is the safety of people, then the stabilization of the fire and the protection of facilities.
He adds that the wind is pushing the fire northwest, but the situation can change quickly.
Evacuees must report to Room C at the Expo Center in Edmonton.
Grande Prairie County is also ordering the evacuation of all residents in the area, including County Road 710 to the Wapiti River and Highway 40 to Highway 73.
Evacuees must report to the Bonnets Energy Center in Grande Prairie.
Another fire is raging southeast of Sturgeon Lake less than a hundred kilometers from Grande Prairie. The fire moves north and west.
Residents of Sturgeon Lake and Sandy Bay Cree Nation, and all people living north of Highway 43 and east of Youngs Point Road, including the properties at Cozy Cove and Boyd’s Lakeshore, should evacuate and head to Valleyview.
The evacuation order for the hamlet of Entwistle was renewed early Friday evening and the evacuation zone extended around 8pm. Parkland County advises that some freeways in the area are closed.
Entwistle’s evacuation order was renewed Friday night.
Photo: Mark Caka
Due to a fire east of the communities, all residents of Whitefish River and Atikameg are being evacuated from their homes under the Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council’s evacuation order.
In the Fourth Creek area, a fire is moving toward the Peace River, threatening buildings in the area. An evacuation order is in place for commercial personnel and anyone in the area.