Karen Bartko

1 week ago | globalnews.ca | Karen Bartko

While Alberta is experiencing cooler weather and higher relative humidity on Thursday, officials say it’s too soon to breathe a sigh of relief as the wildfire danger still remains high across much of the province. The most notable fire in Alberta currently is burning northeast of Edmonton in Sturgeon County, near the town of Redwater. Over 24 hours between Wednesday and Thursday afternoon, Sturgeon County said that fire doubled in size to a total of approximately 3,000 hectares.

1 week ago | globalnews.ca | Karen Bartko

More than 250 people were left homeless after a fire began when someone was smoking near oxygen inside their apartment in northeast Edmonton. The fire began Tuesday afternoon at the Wyndham Crossing apartment complex (4908 134 Ave.) near Clareview Town Centre in the Sifton Park neighbourhood. Edmonton Fire Rescue Services responded around 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday and rolled up to see thick, black smoke pouring from the four-story building.

1 week ago | globalnews.ca | Ken MacGillivray |Jordan Prentice |Karen Bartko

Due to increasing wildfire danger and many active wildfires across the province, Alberta’s government has implemented a fire ban across much of the forest protection area. The forest protection area (FPA) runs along the foothills and Rocky Mountains, and all of northern Alberta’s boreal forest. Alberta Wildfire takes the lead when a fire breaks out in those areas.

1 week ago | globalnews.ca | Karen Bartko

As dry conditions, warm temperatures and gusty winds combined to create near-perfect conditions for a nearby wildfire to grow, officials for a small Alberta community credit cooperation between municipalities when it came to a seamless overnight evacuation. “Definitely, we’ve learnt from tragedies in the past,” said Colin Derko, the mayor of Boyle.

1 week ago | globalnews.ca | Karen Bartko

A section of Athabasca County was ordered to evacuate Tuesday evening due to a wildfire south of the village of Boyle, Alta., where residents were also being told to be prepared to flee. The wildfire is burning south of Boyle, along Highway 831 between the Boyle Fishpond and the Ellscott turnoff. “The south winds are pushing the fire towards Boyle. Local firefighters are currently fighting the fire. The village is currently under an evacuation alert.