Getting worse since the recent update, wildfires continue to devastate Western Canada, with the communities of Fort McMurray in Alberta and Fort Nelson in British Columbia bearing the brunt amid evacuation orders and worsening air quality for surrounding areas.
Alberta Wildfires
“Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued 321 air quality alerts, spanning the province from High Level to Milk River,” reports Alberta Wildfire. As of 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, there are “50 active wildfires, with two currently classified as out-of-control.“
“One, near Fort McMurray, tripled in size overnight to extend its reach to about 5,500 hectares,” says the report. “The other, burning in Grande Prairie County in northwestern Alberta, had grown to about 1,400 hectares as of 1 p.m. Sunday.”
Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued air quality statements for most of Alberta, mainly due to “wildfire smoke emanating from northeastern B.C.,” adds the report.
Alberta Wildfire states that “the fire near Fort McMurray more than tripled in size overnight.” Melissa Story, a public information officer with Alberta Wildfire, stated on CBC Radio’s Daybreak Alberta Sunday morning, “Now, it’s skipping the south portion of the city and heading in a southerly direction.”
While the fire grew significantly, Story mentioned that “overnight firefighting was successful on the northeast portion of the wildfire.” Alberta Wildfire expects “the fire to grow much on Sunday, as winds are forecast to slow down and shift northwesterly.”
“The fire was heading toward Highway 63, but the change in wind direction stopped that,” says Josee St-Onge, another Alberta Wildfire public information officer. “The fire is about 12 kilometers from the highway.”
Meanwhile Fort McMurray and the surrounding county is still under an evacuation alert.
British Columbia Wildfires
Officials warn of escalating risks from a wildfire near Fort Nelson, B.C., as winds push the blaze toward the community.
“The Parker Lake wildfire grew from 17 square kilometers in size on Saturday to around 25 square kilometers on Sunday morning,” says the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS), “remaining around 3.5 kilometers west of the community.”
While fire activity decreased on Saturday, officials caution that “an incoming weather system on Sunday is likely to push the blaze in the community’s direction.”
The Fort Nelson First Nation has expanded their evacuation order, including “many cultural sites.” The Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM) urged remaining residents to evacuate, warning that “emergency medical services are not available, nor are groceries or other amenities.”