Update 11: Alberta wildfire update (July 8, 3 p.m.)

Current situation (as of 3 p.m., July 8)

• There are 41 wildfires currently burning across Alberta in the Forest Protection Area, and four mutual aid fires.
  • 10 are classified as out of control, seven are being held and 24 are under control.
  • There have been three new wildfires since yesterday.
• Since Jan. 1, there have been 723 wildfires in the Forest Protection Area, burning more than 662,000 hectares.
• More than 1,500 Alberta firefighters, contract firefighters and imported firefighters are currently battling wildfires across the province.
• Resources currently being used include heavy equipment, air tankers, helicopters and night vision helicopters.
• Alberta has imported firefighters and aircraft from Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Australia, Costa Rica and the United States Forest Service.
• Information about wildfires can be found by visiting the Alberta Wildfire Status Dashboard.

Orders and alerts

• Updates on evacuation orders are available on https://www.alberta.ca/emergency.
• On July 7, Saddle Hills County lifted its evacuation alert for the Blueberry Mountain area.
• The Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council's evacuation orders for Peerless Lake and Trout Lake remain in effect.
  • Registration centre at 10451 170 Street, Edmonton.
• The Municipal District of Opportunity No. 17's evacuation order for Chipewyan Lake also remains in effect.
  • Reception centre at Lakeview Sports Centre, 102 Opportunity Drive, Wabasca-Desmarais.
• The Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council's evacuation alert for the Loon River First Nation (Loon Lake) remains in effect.
• The Municipal District of Opportunity No. 17's evacuation alert for Red Earth Creek remains in effect.
• Alberta Emergency Alerts are issued by local authorities and are updated at their discretion. For the best source of information on the status of evacuation orders and alerts, residents are encouraged to follow their local authorities' preferred communication channels for updates.
• People living in Alberta are encouraged to download the Alberta Emergency Alert mobile app, which immediately pushes all alerts out to subscribers.

Fire bans

• A fire advisory is in place for the Grande Prairie Forest Area, due to strong winds.
  • Under the advisory, fire permits will only be considered on a case-by-case basis.
  • Safe campfires are still permitted.
• Please confirm advisories, restrictions or bans for your area at alberta.ca/fire-bans.
• Fire bans outside the Forest Protection Area are the responsibility of municipalities and counties.
• Everyone has a role to play in wildfire prevention. Follow all fire bans and restrictions to avoid new fire starts. If you see smoke or flames in the forest, call 310-FIRE to report it.
• Applying FireSmart principles to homes and property can mitigate the risk of wildfire damage. Removing flammable materials and vegetation around the property and preventing embers from accumulating can help protect your home from wildfires. To learn more, visit FireSmart Alberta.

Air quality

• Visit Wildfire Smoke Information for air quality monitoring information to make informed decisions about outdoor activities to protect your health. While wildfire smoke is affecting air quality in parts of Alberta, the presence of smoke does not necessarily mean there is fire near your community. Find information about the status of active wildfires and wildfire updates at Alberta Wildfire.

Roads and highways

• Highway 686 between Red Earth Creek and Trout Lake is closed due to a wildfire.
• 511 Alberta is the best source of real time information as conditions change on our highways. Follow on X (formerly known as Twitter) @511alberta.
• Alberta highways that are affected by the wildfires will open and close frequently depending on safety and weather conditions. Be patient and respect the staff at the closure/detour sites - they are there with your safety in mind.

Health

• For information about wildfire resources, including mental health, visit Wildfire Resources | Alberta Health Services.

Child care

• One child-care centre is currently closed in response to community evacuations:

o Opportunity Childcare, in Red Earth Creek.

• Licensed child-care programs are required to notify Child Care Connect if they close unexpectedly.
• Parents and guardians should reach out to their child-care provider for information on closures.

Justice and court services

• Court sittings will resume in person at the Red Earth Creek courthouse on July 15.

• Visit the Alberta Courts website for the most current information regarding court scheduling.

Related information

• Active emergency updates

• Alberta Emergency Alerts

• Download the Alberta Emergency Alerts app

• Download the Alberta Wildfire app

• How to prepare for an emergency

• Wildfire smoke information

• Emergency evacuation payments

• Free admission to provincial museums and historic sites