Two large wildfires classified as out of control by provincial authorities have burned more than 1,650 hectares of forest to the east and west of Lac La Biche County—causing highway closings and reportedly destroying homes and a business.
Both fires contributed to smoky air quality over Lac La Biche County for most of Sunday. Some residents even reported sightings of ashes in the sky.
The fire northwest of Grassland was first spotted by an Alberta SRD air patrol at 1:23 p.m on Sunday. Within hours, several homes in the area had been evacuated and Highway 63 north of Highway 55 was closed before opening again finally at midnight. Initial reports said the fire caused an evacuation of the nearby Alpac Pulp Mill, but that was later corrected as employees there stayed on the job. As of press time, forestry officials say the still out-of-control fire had grown to 1,000 hectares.
“Significant resources are actioning this fire, including two air tanker groups, helicopters, ground firefighters and heavy equipment,” stated Forest Information Officer Leslie Lozinski in a press release issued late Sunday night.
The Lac La Biche Air Tanker Base became a furious hub of activity, as bird dog planes and multiples air tankers made steady use of the runways and refuelling stations. Bigger tankers filled up with blood-red fire retardant chemicals, while the smaller more nimbler bombers got water on Charron Lake east of Grassland near the fire.
Hot temperatures and steady winds from the northwest are forecasted for the beginning of the week, which will make it more difficult to gain the upper hand on the existing wildfires, and will pose threats for new fires to start up.
“The wind is the major factor driving this fire,” Lozinski told the Post. “And there are strong, gusty winds of up to 45 kilometres being forecast.”
To help battle the fire and wind, firefighters from Alberta SRD and the Boyle, Richmond Park, and Plamondon fire departments were dispatched. Plamondon Fire Chief Hal Pressling and other members of the Plamondon Fire Department were stationed just south of the closed Alpac K-Road Sunday evening.
“We’re here trying to protect these houses,” Pressling said as air tankers buzzed overhead to drop water and chemicals on the growing blaze.
Just west of the Plamondon group sat an evacuated two-story home. It was stained blood-red by a targeted shot of fire retardant chemicals from an air tanker. A firefighter on the ground credited that with saving the house—which was surrounded by scorched field on all sides.
But other homes were reportedly not as lucky. Fire crews on the ground said that homes have been destroyed by the growing blaze, but a Boyle RCMP spokesperson could not provide confirmation.
“There are homes still evacuated,” the spokesperson said late Monday afternoon. “But we haven’t been in there yet to see if any houses have been destroyed.”
On Sunday forestry officials say there were 22 ground crews, 11 helicopters, three Cat units, seven water trucks and other heavy equipment working the fires.
There was also another out-of-control wildfire east of Lac La Biche County near Bonnyville. As of press time, that fire had grown to 650 hectares.
