Traffic moving into northern Alberta along highway near Lac La Biche is being affected by an increase in forest fire activity.
Over the last few days, following a weekend that saw more than 40 new fire starts across northern Alberta, Highways 63 and 881 have seen temporary closures as crews work on fires threatening the main roadways. Highway 63 north of Wandering River was shut down temporarily on Monday, but reopened on Tuesday morning. That same day, according to updates on Alberta 511, Highway 881 between Conklin and Janvier was closed to traffic due to a growing forest fire near Janvier.
Josee St. Onge, a spokesperson with the government of Alberta, stated that Highway 63 was shut down late in the afternoon on Monday, July 22, after a wildfire 1,750 hectares in size swept through an area about 25 kilometres north of Wandering River. The fire is burning on both sides of Highway 63.
“There’s a part of the wildfire that is west of Highway 63 and one that’s on the east,” St. Onge told Lakeland This Week.
The highway was closed Monday as thick smoke from both sides blanketed the north and southbound driving lanes, making visibility very difficult.
Late Tuesday afternoon, the fire was still classified as being out of control, but a shifting wind was keeping the smoke from highway traffic.
Firefighting crews, she explained, are trying to limit growth on the west side of the wildfire so it doesn’t keep growing in that direction, and to contain it on the east side as well so that there is less risk of it returning to the highway area.
At this time, St. Onge continued, the fire poses no threat to the community of Wandering River. The cause of the fire is not known at this time.
“It is under investigation” she stated.
Janvier fire threatens communities
Another out of control fire affecting local highway traffic is burning in the southern part of the Regional Municiplity of Wood Buffalo north of the Janvier community – about 200 kilometres north of Lac La Biche on Highway 881.
The hamlet of Janvier is currently under an evacuation alert. Residents of that community, St. Onge said, must be ready to leave with short notice.
She also confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that there is a new wildfire burning out of control 16 kilometres northeast of Heart Lake First Nation, about 85 kilometres north of Lac La Biche on Highway 881said St. Onge, is classified by provincial authorities as out of control at 6,569 hectares in size.
With some unstable weather expected to hit northern Alberta in the coming days, St. Onge says reduced temperatures may help firefighters, but there is a risk of lighting in storms coming in with the unsettled weather systems.
“So, there is a lot of potential for wildfires to show some increased activity,” she said, adding that area residents, visitors and any motorists travelling the northern highways should continue to pay attention to traffic updates and wildfire updates. She said highways can be closed quickly to keep motorists safe.
“So that’s something people should be watching for,” she stated, adding that residents can go to 511 Alberta to find updated information about road closures and re-openings. “That can happen within short notice because if visibility is severally impaired, then the decision could be made to close stretches of the highway. It’s something that people should be watching closely if they have travel plans.”
