UPDATE: The Wembley Fire Department says the wildfire has been declared under control as of 10 p.m. Monday night. Most crews have gone home for the night, and Alberta Parks will be monitoring the situation overnight.
Work will continue in the morning. The Beaverlodge Fire Department, La Glace Fire Department, and County of Grande Prairie Regional Fire Service have also been helping.
The walking trails have been closed to aid in their efforts, but Wembley firefighters say there hasn’t been a major loss in the park. People are asked not to visit the area for unnecessary reasons, as bystanders reportedly caused a hazard to the response Monday.
A wildfire has broken out in Saskatoon Island Provincial Park. The Wembley Fire Department has been battling it since around 1:30 p.m. Monday afternoon, and two crews and a pair of helicopters have been called in from the province to help battle the blaze.
It is around 1.5 hectares in size. At this point it’s believed to be human-caused.
Grass in the Grande Prairie Forest Area is very dry, and the wildfire danger for the region has been pushed up to high. More warm temperatures are in the forecast for Tuesday, which wildfire information officer Kelly Burke says will further dry out dead grass.
“Use extreme caution if you are using an off-highway vehicle and take the time to check for debris; these machines have very hot exhaust systems. Always carry a small extinguisher, a collapsible bucket or shovel to extinguish a small fire if you happen to cause one while riding. Being prepared could prevent a major incident.”
A fire advisory remains in place for both the forest area and County of Grande Prairie. Eight wildfires were sparked by lightning in the region on Saturday and Sunday.