Cooler conditions and high humidity are aiding the more than 1,000 Alberta firefighters, contract firefighters and imported firefighters currently battling wildfires across the province. Read More
An ongoing look at everything you need to know about wildfires in Alberta and Western Canada.
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An ongoing look at everything you need to know about wildfires in Alberta and Western Canada.
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Cooler conditions and high humidity are aiding the more than 1,000 Alberta firefighters, contract firefighters and imported firefighters currently battling wildfires across the province.
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Alberta has imported firefighters and aircraft from British Columbia, Yukon, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Washington State, Oregon and Idaho.
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While some parts of the province, like Fort McMurray, are expecting a few days of rain, others including Grande Prairie and Edmonton are preparing for a week of low precipitation and warming weather, possibly reaching as high as 29C.
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A fire ban remains in place for northern and central parts of the province’s Fire Protection Area, prohibiting wood fires on public or private land. Propane fire pits and barbecues are still allowed.
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Noon News Roundup
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As of Thursday morning, there were 50 fires burning in the province, with 21 of them classified as out of control. Over 510,000 hectares have burned in Alberta so far in 2025.
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Evacuees across the province are eligible for evacuation payments, and local governments are providing information on registration including when, where and what to bring.
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Read on for more of what you need to know about the evolving wildfire situation in Alberta and Western Canada.
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Readers are welcome to share photos, videos and information by emailing submit@calgaryherald.com.
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8:30 a.m.
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Evacuee payments: Who qualifies and how to register
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Emergency evacuation payments are a one-time payment available to Albertans displaced by mandatory evacuation orders for a minimum of seven days. The payment is meant to assist with the cost of evacuating and help with temporary accommodation and day-to-day costs.
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Eligible families will receive $1,250 for each adult and $500 for each dependent under 18. These payments are not taxable and will not affect coverage received through insurance or benefit amounts for people who receive AISH or Income Support benefits.
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Evacuees can only apply once during the same event, and will have up to 60 days to do so once an evacuation order begins.
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Affected evacuees can apply online using your Alberta.ca account. To receive money by e-transfer, you must have a verified account or apply for verification. You don’t need to wait for your activation code in the mail before applying. E-transfer payments will be received within 24 hours.
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If you can’t access your verified account or receive an e-transfer, call 310-4455 Monday to Friday, between 8:15 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., or visit your local Alberta Supports Centre.
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Eligible communities include Sturgeon County (evacuees located from Range Road 211 East to Range Road 203 and between Township Road 580 South to Township Road 573 and those evacuated the following day as the evacuation expanded), Town of Swan Hills, Chipewyan Lake, Dene Tha’ First Nation (Chateh), Loon River First Nation (Loon Lake 235), Peerless Lake and Trout Lake (Peerless Trout First Nation), Red Earth Creek and Westlock County (Hubert Lake Wildland Provincial Park area on both sides of the Pembina River).
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Local Facebook pages are sharing information with residents on where to register for evacuation payments if they haven’t done so online, and what to bring. Government officials will be on site at registrations.
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Both identification and residence must be verified, and evacuees can use the actual document or a photo of the document as proof.
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Accepted residency documents include a bank statement, utilities statement, lease agreement or insurance card.
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Accepted ID can be anything confirming the registrants name, including but not limited to, a drivers license, Alberta ID, passport, military ID, emergency travel documents, permanent residency card or firearms permit.
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Wednesday
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Lac La Biche County issues mandatory evacuation order
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An out-of-control wildfire in Lac La Biche County has forced a mandatory evacuation order for southern Winefred Lake and Grist Lake, according to Alberta Emergency Alert.
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“All members of the public must leave the area immediately,” the alert said.
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Wednesday
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Alberta wildfire danger eases with rain as some oil output restored
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A second day of rain slowed the spread of wildfires in Alberta, allowing some oil sands production to resume.
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Conditions Wednesday were a stark contrast to the explosive spread of blazes last week that forced evacuations and at one point shut about 7% of Canada’s daily oil production.
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Still, about 462,000 barrels a day of oil output is within 10 kilometers of out-of-control blazes that are at least 10 hectares. A total of 25 wildfires were burning out of control in Alberta, the source of most of Canada’s oil production. A
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A 30% chance of rain is forecast for both Wednesday and Thursday in Cold Lake, near where a 63,000 hectare wildfire prompted major oil sands well sites to shut production, according to Environment Canada. Areas to the east of the blaze, including southern Winefred Lake and Grist Lake, were under an evacuation order Wednesday afternoon, one of many imposed on Alberta communities in recent days.
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Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. expects to ramp production at its Jackfish 1 oil sands site to 36,500 barrels a day by June 6 after resuming operation on Monday.
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Cenovus Energy Inc. and MEG Energy Corp. have both shut their Christina Lake oil sands sites. MEG had no updates to its status, the company said in an email. Cenovus didn’t return an email seeking comment.
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— Bloomberg News
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Wednesday
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In a scatted belt across Saskatchewan’s north, funnels of smoke rise slowly into the general haze.
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From a distance, they act as environmental signage — acrid arrows pointing at places where hell’s fury is erasing history.
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In these places, daylight is often cast in alien hues over forest living, dying and dead. Lunar greys give way to martian reds.
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On the last day of May, this is the scene at the northwest end of Montreal Lake. And in the hamlet of Weyakwin, anxiety and frustration smoulder like the hotspots surrounding it.
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An evacuation order was given days ago in the town that is normally home to around 100 residents. Those few who’ve chosen to stay have been fighting to preserve the small settlement and nearby properties. Some are young men. Some aren’t young.
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Watching over them is the hamlet’s mayor, Medrick Thomas, who has positioned himself and his orange pickup truck near the local firehall. From there, he receives updates from and directs locals.
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— Brandon Harder, Regina Leader-Post
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Wednesday
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Eight wildfires of note in northern Alberta
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Wildland firefighters in Alberta are dealing with eight out-of-control wildfires of note, according to information supplied by the province of Alberta updated Tuesday.
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- Swan Complex: The Edith Lake wildfire and Hubert Lake wildfire were merged into the Swan Complex on Friday. Crews are fighting the fires in the Swan Hills and Westlock areas. Swan Hills and Hubert Lake Wildland Provincial Park are under evacuation orders.
- Red Earth East Complex: A number of wildfires affecting communities including Trout, Peerless, Red Earth Creek, Loon Lake and Chipewyan Lake have been merged into one complex. Evacuations have been ordered in Chipewyan Lake Loon Lake First Nation and Red Earth Creek.
- Caribou Lake: Efforts to protect structures at Winefred Lake were delayed due to dangerous conditions. Conklin remains under wildfire alert. “Two oil and gas facilities (MEG energy, Pike Lodge) and two fishing lodges (Winefred Lake, Winefred Outfitters) have been evacuated,” the province said.
- Kiskatinaw River Wildfire: The BC Wildfire Service continues to respond to this fire, located southwest of Kelly Lake, B.C. While the fire remains on the B.C. side of the border, it is 6 kilometres from Alberta and has potential to cross the border.
- Sousa Creek: This wildfire east of Rainbow Lake registered significant growth. Hay River 209 Indian Reserve and Chateh have been evacuated, the province said, noting some structure protection work was underway.
- SWF088:Located approximately 24 kilometres north of Marten Beach, fire behaviour has been reduced due to recent rain.
- Tulip Lake: Burning 19 km northeast of Fort Fitzgerald and 28 km east of Fort Smith, this out-of-control fire is showing increased activity on Tuesday due to higher temperatures and gusting winds. Airtankers will be available if needed throughout the day.
- Slims Creek:This fire is located five kilometres west of Highway 35 and three kilometres northwest of the Twin Lakes Provincial Recreation Area. The County of Northern Lights has issued a wildfire alert for residents north of Hawk Hills and around the Twin Lakes Provincial Park.
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Wednesday
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Officials say Chipewyan Lake lost almost half of its buildings
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The wildfire in Chipewyan Lake burned 38 structures and nine sheds, Municipal District of Opportunity Reeve Marcel Auger and Bigstone Cree Nation Chief Andy Alook have confirmed.
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Ten other buildings were partially damaged while a further 38 structures are confirmed intact.
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This means the community experienced a 49 per cent structure loss as a result of the wildfire, Auger and Alook said in an update provided Tuesday.
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An aerial assessment of the area was completed by forestry officials earlier this week, allowing officials to provide property damage information.
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This assessment is preliminary but provided more clear information of damage to the community.
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A boots-on-the ground assessment began on Tuesday and more updated information will be available as it comes.
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The M.D. of Opportunity and Bigstone Cree Nation are working on temporary housing solutions, officials said, and Chipewyan Lake is working on permanent solutions. Local governments are lobbying the provincial and federal government to support efforts.
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While the area received some rain over the previous days, the upcoming forecast is calling for higher temperatures, increased winds and low humidity. This will likely cause an increase in fire behaviour.
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What you need to know about wildfires in Canada
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How bad is the 2025 wildfire season looking?
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With below-normal snowpacks during the winter and predicted summer-time drought conditions hitting various parts of Canada, the wildfire season could be a difficult one. Already, Manitoba and Saskatchewan have declared states of emergency to help protect people from raging flames and significant evacuations of northern communities in both provinces have seen thousands of people forced to flee their homes.
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“This is the largest evacuation in many Manitobans’ living memory and this will require significant resources and co-operation from all levels of government,” says Manitoba premier Wab Kinew. Already, two people have died in wildfires in that province.
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In Alberta, evacuation orders are also increasing in the northern part of the province as out-of-control fires rage.
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Why has Canada already reached the most serious level on the wildfire preparedness chart?
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The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) has already placed Canada at its highest level — 5 — on the National Preparedness Levels chart.
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“Wildland fire activity is significant within one or more jurisdictions,” CIFFC says. “Firefighters and equipment in every jurisdiction is put to use, and international help has been requested.”
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How do I find the latest wildfire warning levels in western Canada?
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- In Alberta, go to alberta.ca/wildfire-status. That’s where you’ll find a wildfire map, dashboard of incidents and forest area updates.
- In British Columbia, the daily wildfire update is at wildfiresituation.nrs.gov.bc.ca/map.
- In Saskatchewan, the active wildifre situation map can be found here and reports on bans along with fire bulletins are here.
- In Manitoba, wildfire information, reports and updates are here.
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What do the different wildfire statuses mean?
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- Turned over: Alberta Wildfire says a wildfire is “turned over” when a fire that is under control is given to another agency to extinguish it.
- Mutual aid: If a fire is a “mutual aid wildfire,” it’s a wildfire that has started in a municipal district and that district’s firefighters may need help fighting it from Alberta Wildfire.
- Under control: If firefighters and equipment have successfully managed a fire to make sure it won’t grow, it’s classified as being “under control.”
- Being held: Based on expected weather and the resources already fighting a particular fire, a fire that is “being held” means it’s not expected to spread.
- Out of control: A wildfire is growing, or expected to grow, and thus its status is one of being out of control.
- Source: Government of Alberta
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How can I help prevent wildfires?
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The number of wildfires caused by humans vs. lightning strikes has varied over the years, but Natural Resources Canada reports that in 2023 lightning caused about 50 per cent of all fires. Those fires, however, represented, about 85 per cent of the annual area consumed by flames.
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When it comes to human-caused fires, wildfire experts provide some straightforward advice. Start by being familiar with campfire safety. Use designated fire pits and don’t start a fire near an abundance of nearby potential fuel. Keep the fire sheltered from the wind; keep water nearby in case of emergency; and, ensure all fires are extinguished each night.
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If you’re in a rural area, ensure you know how to safely burn vegetation or brush or understand how to use burn barrels.
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Rules for everyone? Don’t flick smoking materials onto the ground or out a vehicle’s window. Obey all fire bans. Avoid use of explosive materials like fireworks.
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If you live in a forested area, ensure you are familiar with the FireSmart guidelines to protect your house, neighbourhood or community. They offer a myriad of tips that can help save properties and lives.
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Additionally, experts suggest all levels of government need to work together to share effective strategies, reduce fuel loads and manage forests responsibly.
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To read in-depth stories about Canadian wildfires check out:
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