Edmonton, AB — Alberta Forestry Minister Todd Loewen and Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis held a virtual news conference today to provide an update on the ongoing wildfire crisis in the province. They were joined by Christie Tucker, the Alberta Wildfire information unit manager, and Steven Lacroix, the managing director of the Alberta Emergency Management Agency.
Currently, the province is battling over 170 active wildfires, with more than 50 classified as out of control. The municipality of Jasper is under an evacuation order affecting over 25,000 residents due to the rapidly advancing fires.
“To put this into perspective, since January 1st, there have been over 930 wildfires in the forest protection area, with more than 440 occurring in July alone,” Minister Loewen stated. “The past few weeks have been tough. While there is rain expected in parts of the province later this week, the forecast for the next week calls for more hot, dry weather, meaning we will likely have more hard days ahead of us.”
In response to the escalating situation, Alberta has imported resources and personnel from other jurisdictions. “We are incredibly grateful for these resource-sharing agreements,” Loewen said. “Early in the year, we were sharing resources and personnel, and we’re prepared to return the favour in the future to these jurisdictions.”
Loewen also urged Albertans to exercise caution outdoors to prevent new wildfires. “Preventable wildfires put a strain on our resources and the people who are working hard to protect the province,” he said. He reminded residents of the fire ban in effect for the entire forest protection area and encouraged them to stay informed about local restrictions.
Minister Ellis provided an update on the evacuation in Jasper, which was prompted by nearby wildfires and highway closures. “The town of Jasper and Jasper National Park issued an evacuation order and declared a state of local emergency at approximately 10 p.m. last night,” he reported. The Alberta Emergency Management Agency is working closely with Jasper’s director of emergency management, Parks Canada, and local authorities.
Ellis outlined the evacuation procedures and available support. “Evacuees have been notified that a reception centre is open in Grand Prairie at the Bonnet Energy Centre. There is also a reception centre in Calgary at the S.C.H.I. Athletic Park, opening for evacuees starting at 11 a.m. We encourage everyone to check the municipality of Jasper’s website and alberta.ca/emergency for more information as it becomes available.”
The evacuation route for those heading to Grand Prairie is to take Highway 16 West to Prince George, then proceed north via Highway 97 and south on Highway 2 back east to Grand Prairie. For those heading to Calgary, the route is to take Highway 5 South to Kamloops, then proceed east to Calgary via Highway 1.
Christie Tucker provided additional details on the wildfire situation. “We have 170 wildfires burning in the forest protection area of Alberta, with 56 currently out of control. Wildfire danger is extreme in most of the province right now,” she said. The forecasted cold front from B.C. is expected to shift winds, potentially increasing the intensity and changing the direction of several wildfires.
Tucker highlighted the support being provided to Parks Canada in Jasper National Park. “We have already provided support overnight from aircraft to staff to wildfire intelligence, and today we have firefighters and aircraft on standby ready to help in Jasper if needed,” she said.
Minister Ellis emphasized the importance of public safety and being prepared for evacuations. “We estimate that there are approximately 17,500 evacuees across the province,” he said. He urged residents in all affected communities to listen to local officials and obey any evacuation orders.
“Evacuation orders are not made lightly and are in place to protect people. We ask residents to follow the Alberta emergency alert app and website and their local municipality for evacuation information and available services. Alberta 511 provides up-to-date information on highway closures and conditions.”
Both ministers thanked the communities supporting evacuees and urged all Albertans to remain vigilant. “Public safety remains our top priority,” Ellis said. “I encourage all Albertans to be prepared, listen to local authorities, and stay safe.”
As Alberta faces challenging days ahead, the collective effort and resilience of its residents and emergency responders remain crucial in managing this wildfire crisis.