Wildfire that triggered evacuation near Whitecourt, Alta. now being held
A wildfire which has forced hundreds of people from their homes near Whitecourt, Alta., is no longer expected to grown beyond its current boundaries — signaling a possible return home for more than 150 displaced families.
In an update issued at 12 p.m. Wednesday, officials with Alberta Wildfire said the fire threatening homes in Woodlands County is no longer considered out of control. It's now classified as being held.
RELATED: Out-of-control wildfire spurs evacuation order for area near Whitecourt, Alta.
The change in fire status signals a major shift in response to the wildfire which sparked Monday, spread rapidly in parched conditions and has now incinerated 50 hectares of forest and farmland.
An image of the fire near Whitecourt captured by evacuee Jessica Adams as she drove to safety Monday evening. (Jessica Adams)
The wildfire continues to burn near homes in the area of West Ridge. As of Wednesday afternoon, the fire remained approximately 3.5 km southeast of the Town of Whitecourt and less than 1 km south of Highway 43.
In an update Wednesday, officials with Woodlands County said, with the fire-fight progressing, they are developing a phased re-entry plan for evacuees. .
Re-entry, which will most likely occur over several days, will only occur when the evacuation area is deemed safe, county officials said.
Officials with Alberta Wildfire, the province’s wildfire-fighting agency, said crews took advantage of calmer conditions Tuesday to contain the flames.
'Today will tell'
Caroline Charbonneau, a wildfire information officer with Alberta Wildfire, said crews have built a containment line encircling the fire’s perimeter.
The fire guard, a wide trench of dug up earth and cleared tinder, should prevent the fire from growing beyond its current size.
What to pack in an emergency kit if you need to evacuate. (The Weather Network)
Strong wind gusts Wednesday could make conditions more challenging but they hope cooler temperatures and calm winds prevail.
“Firefighters are pretty confident that their work will hold. But today will tell,” Charbonneau said in an interview from the evacuation centre Wednesday.
“We're not expecting intense fire behaviour today.”
Charbonneau said the blaze died down overnight and became a smouldering ground fire with no open flames. She said wind gusts expected to develop later Wednesday should be manageable since the weather is relatively cool and cloudy with high humidity.
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She said the winds will act as a test to see if their containment lines around the fire can hold the flames back.
“If we have any gaps, this will be a good time for us to see if there is a possibility for escape,” she said.
“We have firefighters there on scene, air tankers are ready to deploy, if needed, and heavy equipment is staged nearby.”
Surveying the damage
Woodlands County officials said emergency crews have begun surveying areas effected by the fire to survey for possible safety hazards, including downed trees and powerlines.
As part of these safety assessments, designated teams be entering the evacuation area to photograph damaged properties and catalogue any damage.
Dave Kusch, Woodlands County reeve, is seen here Tuesday morning in Whitecourt. He told CBC the fire moved quickly because of dry conditions. (Julia Wong/CBC)
Woodlands County will then contact affected property owners directly to provide available information and copies of photos to help inform them of any damage. Evacuees will begin receiving those updates Wednesday. Officials have said that at least one home was lost to the flames.
Residents are being urged to keep away from the evacuation area until they are given a formal all-clear to return home.
"Public safety remains the top priority," officials said in an update to evacuees Wednesday. " "Woodlands County thanks residents for their continued patience, understanding, and cooperation.
More details on the safety assessments and re-entry plans for evacuees will be shared as they become available.
'We definitely did everything we could'
Charbonneau said Alberta Wildfire has heard from residents who are eager to return home. She said some of them have questioned whether local and provincial crews responded effectively to the fire.
No significant rainfall amounts are expected in the Whitecourt region in the short-range forecast. (The Weather Network)
She said fighting the fire has remained Alberta's Wildfire's highest priority and they’re working as quickly as possible to get people back in their homes.
“We just want people to know we definitely did everything we could and we responded as quickly as possible.”
If the long-term forecast holds, heavy rains expected in the region overnight Wednesday could also provide some much-needed relief to wildfire crews in the region.
With no precipitation in days, conditions in the region have been parched and are considered are still considered extreme for the risk of severe wildfire behaviour.
In an update Wednesday, officials with Woodlands County said, with the fire now being held, they are developing a phased re-entry plan for affected residents.
Re-entry, which will most likely occur over several days, will only occur when the evacuation area is deemed safe, county officials said.
150 families displaced
Evacuation orders were issued Monday evening hours after the fire was detected.
Most of the people displaced from their homes have taken refuge in the Town of Whitecourt where an evacuation centre has been established inside the local recreation centre.
As of Tuesday evening, approximately 150 families, 424 individuals and 350 pets had registered. Evacuees have been offered support with food, accommodations and necessities and crews have begun doing welfare checks on any pets or livestock left behind.
Jackie Clark, her husband Jeff and their seven children have been staying in a hotel room since the fire approached.
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They live on Bison Road, in the area of Woodlands County that remains under mandatory evacuation, but were not at home when the order to leave was issued.
Clark said she feels unsettled about all she had to leave behind, including their dog. They drove close to the edge of the evacuation zone Tuesday in the hopes of retrieving their pet.
“There's a lot of anxiety and I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do,” she said. “Just sitting around not being able to go home is not a good feeling.”
Clark said her five-year-old daughter has become confused and fearful about the fire. She somehow came to believe that their home had burned and woke up in their hotel room crying, Clark said.
“I didn't realize how scared she would be. I thought, well, we'll just go get her security blanket and she'll be fine. But they know more about what's going on than you think they do, I guess.”
'Really big heart'
Clark said they were feeling grateful but unsettled, fearful about what her neighbours may have lost to the flames.
“You worry about everybody,” she said. “I don’t want any neighbours to have to rebuild their lives. That’s a terrible thing.”
Clark said she is thankful for the first responders, and the support evacuated families have received.
She said it's comforting to see her community members care for one another during the crisis.
“A lot of people here have really big hearts.”
Thumbnail courtesy of Julia Wong/CBC.
This article, written by Wallis Snowdon, was originally published for CBC News. Contains files from Julia Wong.