As of noon Wednesday, May 24th the evacuation order for the Town of Fox Creek, Hamlet of Little Smoky, and areas along Highway 43 between Township Road 670 and Township Road 650 will be downgraded to an alert, allowing residents to return home.
The Town of Fox Creek is advising residents to fill up vehicles with gas and buy groceries before they return as supplies could be limited. According to Fox Creek officials, “There are still 2 out of control wildfires very close to town. The community will remain under an evacuation alert. Please be ready to leave on short notice should conditions change in the coming days.”
All Fox Creek residents will need to check in at the Fox Creek Community Hall when they return, and there will be no access to the downtown area until the majority of residents have checked in. At 9 p.m. Wednesday, all roadways will be open.
Those with medical conditions or who anticipate they will need the emergency department are being advised to delay returning to town until the Fox Creek hospital is open and all services have resumed. As well, due to the heavy smoke in the area officials recommend those with respiratory issues also delay their return.
“The hard work and dedication of our emergency personnel and first responders have made this re-entry possible earlier than initially anticipated.”
Those not listed in the downgraded area remain on evacuation order and are not permitted to return home.
Crews will continue to work on the Eagle Complex, by maintaining the fire guards and actioning priority hotspots. As of 9 p.m. Tuesday, the two fires which make up the Eagle Complex were estimated to be 72,830 and 54,274 hectares in size.