Alberta fire danger reaches 'extreme' levels to begin May
Conditions are ripe for the spark and spread of wildfires across Alberta as much of the province faces an 'extreme' fire danger to start the month of May.
Alberta has already seen more than 200 recorded blazes so far this year, and the potential exists for more fires to start as the province approaches the peak of its wildfire season.
Dozens of active wildfires are burning throughout the province at the moment, with two deemed out of control as of Sunday morning and another blaze that has prompted an evacuation order for two hamlets west of Edmonton, Alta.
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The culmination of drier-than-normal weather and a lack of meaningful precipitation in the foreseeable future have created ideal conditions for wildfires.
Total precipitation is well below normal this spring, with the city of Edmonton recording just 30 mm of precipitation in the past 90 days.
The fire danger rating is currently 'extreme' across a large section of southern Alberta, including Calgary.
Even worse, the favourable fire conditions will come with a risk for lightning strikes through early week, potentially serving as an additional source for the ignition of new wildfires throughout the province.
As of April 30, Alberta Wildfire has documented nearly 250 wildfires across Alberta so far in 2023, with about half of those fires reported in just the final week of April.
The month closes out with more than 40 active wildfires burning throughout the province, with seven considered to be out of control. These active fires combined have consumed more than 2,000 hectares of land, according to Alberta Wildfire, with the vast majority of the coverage in the Lac La Biche Forest Area north of Edmonton.
A threatening grass fire west of Edmonton prompted an evacuation order for residents in two hamlets. According to The Canadian Press, RCMP say a fire just south of Highway 16 between Range Road 70 and 71 is quickly heading west toward Entwistle due to high winds.
Parkland County has ordered that everyone west of Range Road 65, north of Township Road 530 to Township Road 534, including all residents of Entwistle, must leave immediately, according to Alberta Emergency Alert.
Folks around Edmonton have seen small fires in recent weeks, including a brush fire in downtown Edmonton that prompted the evacuation of a hotel immediately next to the blaze. The blaze only damaged the hotel’s patio, CBC News reported on April 28.
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Rising temperatures will worsen the situation in the weeks ahead as the province moves into the peak of its wildfire season.
Residents should take time now to review emergency preparedness and evacuation plans in the event of a nearby fire. Individuals and families should be prepared to take care of themselves for at least 72 hours in case of evacuation due to wildfires.
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Thumbnail courtesy of Mooneydriver. E+. Getty Images/Creative #: 172327589.
With files from The Canadian Press.
