Rain continues in much of northern Alberta, clearing wildfire smoke and helping firefighting efforts 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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Rain continues in much of northern Alberta, clearing wildfire smoke and helping firefighting efforts across the province.
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Some communities are still seeing expanded evacuation orders, while others are preparing residents to return home.
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Meanwhile, some Saskatchewan evacuees are finding peace, culture and community amid wildfires.
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Fire bans remain in effect for a large part of Alberta, including in all of Rocky View County, as parts of the province’s forest areas are considered to be at extreme wildfire risk.
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As of Friday morning, there were 56 fires burning in the province, with 23 of them classified as out of control. More than 650,000 hectares have burned in Alberta so far in 2025.
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Noon News Roundup
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Fire personnel and aircraft from British Columbia, Yukon, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Washington State, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Hawaii have arrived in Alberta to assist with battling out-of-control blazes. Firefighters and support staff from Australia have also arrived in the province.
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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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ADDITIONAL COVERAGE
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8 a.m.
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Rain and cooler weather expected to aid firefighting efforts
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Alberta Wildfire is hopeful that rain and cooler weather in the coming days will help firefighting efforts.
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Most of the province is expected to receive some amount of precipitation over the next few days, and temperatures in the high teens and low-to-mid 20s are expected.
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Environment and Climate Change Canada is forecasting 20 to 40 millimetres of rain in some areas. With the rain also comes risk of thunderstorms, hail and strong winds.
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Rain is anticipated to last through Saturday, with temperatures warming up again by Sunday afternoon.
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The Kiskatinaw River wildfire did not experience growth on Wednesday into Thursday, and reduced fire behaviour is expected as the area due to low temperatures and higher humidity.
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Night operations on the Red Earth East Complex were successful and crews continue to reinforce and build containment lines.
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Slims Creek and Tulip Lake fires also saw no significant growth and reduced fire behaviour thanks to changes in weather, and firefighters are taking advantage of favourable weather conditions to prevent growth toward communities.
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7:30 a.m.
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Métis Nation–Saskatchewan quickly established the evacuation centre at Batoche after wildfires began forcing communities like La Ronge, Air Ronge and the Lac La Ronge Indian Band to evacuate. While government-run shelters in Prince Albert and Saskatoon filled up — with some evacuees expressing frustration about delays, confusion and red tape — Batoche offered a quieter, more culturally-grounded alternative.
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Families camped in tents at first. Then the doors opened. A television was set up. Children went on wagon rides to visit the bison. When strong winds flattened tents, evacuees were given rooms inside.
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“My kids got to play, to be kids again,” said evacuee Brent Colli. “Even just watching TV helped. It felt normal. That’s what they needed.”
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Meals were served. Coffee was shared. The nearby chuckwagon teams practiced for summer races. Elders rested.
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“It’s like a big camping trip — but this time, it felt like somebody opened their home to us.” Colli said.
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— Michelle Berg, Saskatoon Star Phoenix
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Thursday
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County of Grande Prairie downgrades some of its evacuation order
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While the Kiskatinaw River wildfire remains out of control, the County of Grande Prairie has downgraded some of its evacuation order and alert.
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Some residents can return home, but the area remains on evacuation alert, which means residents should be prepared to leave within 30 minutes.
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“Everyone north of Township Road 710 to Township Road 740, east of Range Road 132 to Range Road 130 can return home,” according to Alberta Emergency Alert.
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“The evacuation order remains in effect for everyone north of Township Road 710 to 740, east of the British Columbia/Alberta border to Range Road 132.”
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Thursday
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Squamish RCMP issued a public appeal Thursday morning for help in their investigation into the cause of a wildfire in the Dryden Creek area that has put some Squamish residents on evacuation alert and closed a provincial park.
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Due to dry conditions, the fire spread rapidly and continues to burn. Squamish RCMP said it’s believed the fire started around 4 p.m. Monday on a bike trail.
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Investigators suspect the fire was human-caused.
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“We believe there were individuals on the trail around the time the fire started who may have information”, said Staff Sgt. Gareth Bradley, a spokesperson for the Squamish RCMP, in a statement.
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“We encourage anyone who was out walking or hiking in the area to contact police, even if you think what you saw isn’t important. Sometimes the smallest detail can make a big difference.”
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The B.C. Wildfire Service has mapped the Dryden Creek fire at about 54 hectares, or about a half-square kilometre, up from five hectares two days ago.
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The District of Squamish said daytime winds have contributed to the fire’s size, pushing it further north away from properties.
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Read more about wildfires in British Columbia.
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— Postmedia Vancouver
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Thursday
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Blueberry Mountain fire evacuation order updated
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The County of Saddle Hills has updated the evacuation order in relation to the Blueberry Mountain fire, north of Grande Prairie near the B.C. border.
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Between Highway 49 and Township Road 794, the boundaries of the evacuation zone are Range Road 95 and Range Road 85.
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North of Township Road 794 up to Township Road 804, the boundaries expand to Range Road 100 to Highway 725.
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Evacuees should register at the Evacuation Centre, located at Highway 680 and Range Road 82.
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Anyone in the listed area should evacuate immediately. Anyone in the area surrounding the evacuation zone should prepare to leave on short notice.
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Thursday
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MD of Greenview cancels evacuation order, Trunk Road re-opens
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An evacuation order within the MD of Greenview, south of Grande Prairie, was lifted Thursday.
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The order was put in place Tuesday and included an area between the Smoky River and Forestry Trunk Road from km 70 to km 126.
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The Trunk Road is now re-opened, but travelers are asked to be cautious as firefighting efforts continue in the area of an out of control fire burning towards the Forestry Trunk Road.
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Thursday
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MEG Energy returns personnel to site and restores connection to Alberta’s electric grid
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MEG has safely returned all personnel to site and restored its connection to the province’s electric grid, the oil producer said in a Thursday news release. Phase 2B operations have restarted at the Christina Lake Regional Project following a pause due to wildfires south of the facility.
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“We are deeply grateful for the unwavering support of Alberta’s emergency responders, government agencies, and the electricity provider during this critical time,” said Darlene Gates, President and CEO of MEG Energy.
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“Additionally, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our employees and contractors for their exceptional hard work, focus, and steadfast commitment to operating safely.”
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Wednesday
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Wildfires across Canada are devouring land at a pace unseen in any year other than the historic 2023 season.
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With more than 3.15 million hectares burned, according to Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre data, the season has already raced past the annual average, even when including the past two major fire seasons.
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The 25-year average for land burned is 2.95 million hectares. This year’s tally is poised to finish well above normal.
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Dozens of active wildfires are burning from northern British Columbia and Alberta in a belt extending southeastward to Ontario. Many new blazes have started in recent weeks as a result of lightning, which is a common fire starter. The most intense fire activity has shifted its focus westward over recent days, partly a result of high heat in the country’s west and increased rainfall in central Canada.
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— The Washington Post
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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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Why does exposure to wildfire smoke cause so much concern?
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More toxic than other sources of pollution, wildfire smoke can cause a range of health effects, from mild coughs, itchy eyes and headaches to dizziness, wheezing, chest pains, asthma attacks, shortness of breath and heart palpitations.
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Smoke is most hazardous to human health when it’s close to the ground, said Natalie Hasell, emergency preparedness meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada.
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“If you have a very stable atmosphere, everything will get concentrated by the surface,” Hasell told Postmedia in an earlier interview.
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“If you have a less stable or even unstable atmosphere, more of it will be mixed, so the concentration at the surface won’t be quite as strong.”
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Smoke forecasters are especially concerned with fine particulate matter in the air because it is small enough to evade our natural defences and reach into our lungs, leading to health concerns.
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“Your eyebrows catch stuff so they don’t end up in your eyes,” Hasell said. “The hair in your nostrils, the mucus lining your respiratory system can capture the bigger pieces, and you sneeze them out or you cough them out.
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“But the very small things can elude those and make it deep into our lungs.”
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In addition to hearts and lungs, wildfire smoke may mess with the human brain, emerging research suggests.
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Fine particulate matter carried in wildfire smoke can enter the brain via the bloodstream, causing inflammation and oxidative stress, a condition resulting from too many cell-damaging molecules called free radicals and not enough antioxidants to mop them up, one theory holds.
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Recently, scientists have linked exposure to wildfire smoke to increased risks for impaired cognitive function, memory loss, greater odds of being diagnosed with dementia and an increase in emergency department visits for anxiety, depression, psychotic episodes and other mental-health problems.
The Air Quality Health Index program for urban pollution and wildfire smoke exists to signal when minimizing exposure to potentially hazardous outside air could be necessary.
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“We issue the messaging to remind people that smoke affects everyone and that there are susceptible people in the population who are more at risk,” Hasell said.
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It might not be readily apparent how dangerous the situation can be for some people when there’s smoke in the air without the presence of nearby fire.
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“It’s certainly an anxiety-triggering phenomenon because fire is bad. We lose things in fires, so we have evolved to react to fire and smoke,” she said.
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“But in some cases, we’re talking about smoke that’s coming from a very far distance, so the immediate fire threat is not there, but smoke itself has risks with respect to health.”
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— Ricky Leong and Sharon Kirkey
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To read in-depth stories about Canadian wildfires check out:
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