60-hectare brush fire north of Grande Prairie could take days to extinguish: officials

Fire crews worked through the night and into Sunday to contain a brush fire north of Grande Prairie, with officials saying it could take several days to fully extinguish it.

The fire in a rural area near Clairmont – north of Township Road 730 between Range Road 53 and 54 – is an estimated 60 hectares in size.

In an update Sunday, the County of Grande Prairie said there was no risk to the public and that three homes were being protected by fire crews.

“With the cooler temperatures overnight, it will keep smoke in the area. This may continue until the fire is extinguished,” the county said.

How soon the fire would be out was “depending upon conditions,” it added.

Aircraft and heavy equipment were needed to battle the blaze. Crews from the County of Grande Prairie Fire Services, Alberta Wildfire and the City of Grande Prairie were all on the scene.

Grande Prairie RCMP, which were also on location Saturday night, asked members of the public to avoid the area “until further notice.”

“Traffic had to be diverted during fire operations last night because personal vehicles were impeding firefighting operations,” the county said.

RCMP were released from the scene Sunday but said officers were “ready to assist if necessary.”

Crews were first called to the fire around 7:45 p.m. Saturday. Police initially warned the fire was at risk of spreading to a forest and other infrastructures.

The cause is under investigation.