Residents of Evansburg can return home after county lifts evacuation order

Yellowhead County lifted its wildfire evacuation order for the hamlet of Evansburg, west of Edmonton, Wednesday morning.

Officials lifted the evacuation order at 8 a.m., allowing residents to return home. Buses to Evansburg were available from the Edson evacuee reception.

Those in rural areas east, and north and south of Wildwood were also permitted to return.

“A reminder that wildfires may still be active in the area,” the county wrote in a Facebook post. “Please stay prepared for potential changes in the situation.”

The evacuation order remains in effect for the hamlet of Wildwood, Lobstick Resort, Hansonville and Highway 16, as well as areas south of Highway 16 from Range Road 81 to Reno Road, and Highway 16A to Range Road 75.

Residents were told to leave on May 1 as dry and windy conditions fuelled wildfires that put the hamlet and surrounding rural area at risk.

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Alberta’s wildfire status dashboard reported 76 active wildfires by late Wednesday morning, 26 of which are out of control.

Some areas in central Alberta have experienced cooler temperatures and rain, but the government says a return to hot and windy conditions is expected in the coming days.

—With files from The Canadian Press