As of noon Monday, six wildfires are burning in the M.D. of Greenview which have forced several communities to evacuate.
According to the M.D.’s Emergency Operation Centre Update the residents from the Town of Fox Creek, and Hamlet and the area of Little Smoky remain under an evacuation notice as the fire, which is 21,568 hectares in size, continues to burn. However, with cooperative weather conditions progress is said to have been made on the fire. According to the update, crews from forestry, Greenview Fire – DeBolt rescue and the Fox Creek Fire Department continue to fight the fire and put fire guards in place.
The Sturgeon Lake fire continues in and around the immediate area of the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, with the fire which is 3,765 hectares in size, reported to have slowed with the lake’s help. According to the update the fire “pushed in a northerly fashion and resulted in the impacts on the Sandy Bay area communities.” Crews from forestry, Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, Greenview Fire-Rescue-Service, and the Valleyview fire department are working to fight the fire along with the support of a dozer guard, and aerial support; the support of an air tanker has also been requested. An evacuation order remains in place as crews hope with cooperative weather more progress will be made in getting the fire under control.
Residents in the Hamlet of Grovedale remain under an evacuation notice as crews continue to battle the Bald Mountain fire. The size of the fire is reported to have reduced in size and is 8,365 hectares in size. According to the report, the north edge of the fire is getting closer to Two Lakes Road, however over the last day the growth of the fire has been stagnant. Forestry and the M.D. continue to monitor any potential movement of the fire.
Sunday night the evacuation zone for the Little Paswaskau Fire, which is located northwest of Valleyview, was reduced allowing some evacuees to return home. The fire is reported as being 1,200 hectares in size and is not considered to be a threat to the public.
The full update from the MD of Greenview can be found here.