Wildfire evacuation order lifted for more communities west of Edmonton

Authorities are lifting a wildfire evacuation order Wednesday afternoon for an area west of Edmonton.

The alert was issued Saturday near the hamlet of Entwistle, about 100 kilometres from Edmonton, as multiple grass and brush fires spread in windy and hot conditions.

Evacuation orders were also being lifted for the Yellowhead County communities of Wildwood and Lobstick and areas east and northeast of Chip Lake and south of Highway 16.

Orders were being lifted at 3 p.m.

RELATED: Wildfires west of Edmonton: evacuation order lifted for Evansburg, Entwistle

Fire crews are still working in the area, the province says. Residents are being urged to be on “30-minute alert” if conditions change.

The Alberta government says crews have contained a fire near Calmar, but an evacuation order there remains in effect as high temperatures and winds are expected to continue.

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo says a fire about 35 kilometres south of Fort McMurray is classified as being held and does not pose any immediate risk to residents near the area of Gregoire Lake.

Two out-of-control wildfires near the hamlets of Evansburg and Entwistle continue to burn. The first, burning on both sides of Highway 22 and north of Highway 16, was an estimated 2,320 hectares on Wednesday – slightly smaller than the day before.

The second, southeast of Evansburg, grew to an estimated 500 hectares – up from 330 hectares on Tuesday.

One of two wildfires near Evansburg in Parkland County, west of Edmonton, seen from a helicopter on May 2, 2023. (Source: Government of Alberta)

Most of central Alberta is under a fire ban after a period of windy and unseasonably hot conditions.

Hot and dry conditions are expected to continue in the coming days. A heat warning was issued for Edmonton, its surrounding areas and northeastern Alberta.

There is no rain expected before the weekend.

“With this very warm, very dry, very stagnant and windy flow pattern, that really is the trifecta of the heightened fire risk, so I think it’s no surprise to see the fires we’ve had so far,” said Environment Canada meteorologist Jesse Wagar.

“Hopefully the incoming rain will help the situation in that respect a little bit, but at this time it doesn’t look like a full, heavy, multi-day rain period. But really at this point any rain will be helpful.”