An Alberta wildfire northeast of Edmonton has led to a state of local emergency in Sturgeon County, the destruction of one home, and the evacuation of livestock. The fire, located near the Redwater Provincial Recreation Area, expanded rapidly over the weekend, prompting evacuation notices and temporary road closures.
Evacuation Notice and Emergency Measures
The wildfire prompted county officials to issue an evacuation notice Saturday evening. By midnight, a state of local emergency had been declared. This measure allows emergency responders access to property and equipment to support firefighting operations.
The affected area includes sections from Range Road 205 to Victoria Trail, Township 574 to Range Road 203, and extends south of Township 580 to the North Saskatchewan River. Road closures were put in place, and access to the area was limited to county residents.
Structural and Agricultural Losses
One residence was destroyed by the fire. The property included a house, a calving barn, a shop, and poultry facilities. The occupants had approximately 13 minutes to evacuate and managed to move a portion of their cattle. Chickens and other property were lost in the blaze. No injuries were reported.
The family continues to assess the status of their livestock. The surrounding area contains both forest and agricultural land, including cattle and poultry farms.
Alberta Wildfire Conditions and Restrictions
The Alberta wildfire dashboard indicated that the fire had reached nearly 390 hectares by early Sunday afternoon. Fire restrictions are in place in Sturgeon County due to high fire risk. Wood fires on public land are not permitted under the current conditions.
In addition to the Sturgeon County blaze, a separate fire in northwestern Alberta also broke containment. That fire, related to a prescribed burn along the Peace River, expanded to approximately 1,200 hectares. Officials reported that it is not threatening any nearby communities at this time. The region is under a fire advisory, and the fire risk remains elevated.
Emergency Response and Containment Efforts
Crews have been deployed to the affected areas. Three helicopters were used in the Sturgeon County fire response as of Sunday afternoon. RCMP and emergency personnel were involved in evacuation coordination, and municipal updates were issued throughout the weekend.
Emergency services in the region have communicated with impacted families. Temporary closures remain in place around the provincial park area.
Common Wildfire Preparedness Measures
Wildfire preparedness varies by location and property type. The following list includes measures commonly used by rural residents and landowners in Alberta:
- Clearing vegetation and debris from areas surrounding buildings.
- Storing emergency supplies in accessible locations.
- Establishing livestock evacuation procedures.
- Identifying nearby water sources, such as dugouts or ponds.
- Monitoring municipal alerts and regional fire dashboards.
Ongoing Monitoring and Conditions
As of the latest available update, the fire in Sturgeon County had not crossed the North Saskatchewan River. Winds and dry weather conditions remain factors in wildfire behavior. Officials continue to assess fire movement and containment needs.
The full extent of property and agricultural losses is still being evaluated. Emergency and wildfire personnel remain active in the area.