2 Alberta hamlets on evacuation alert due to wildfire threat

Residents of two Alberta hamlets are now bracing for possible evacuations due to the threat of encroaching wildfires.

An evacuation alert was issued Monday afternoon for the community of Bilby Common, a subdivision in rural Lac Ste Anne County.

Residents of the area in the northwestern Alberta county should be prepared to evacuate their homes within 30 minutes. A wildfire burning west of the neighbourhood is spreading east, according to the critical alert.

The hamlet of Saprae Creek Estates, about 30 kilometres southeast of Fort McMurray, also remains on evacuation alert. A critical wildfire alert for the hamlet in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo was issued Sunday afternoon.

About 700 people who live in Saprae Creek should be prepared to leave on short notice, provincial wildfire officials said.

The fire near Saprae Creek, first detected on April 21, continues to burn out of control on the south side of the Clearwater River.

The fire, which has already consumed nearly 70 hectares of forest, is now burning about 4.5 kilometres east of Saprae Creek. The fire started Sunday about six kilometres outside the hamlet.

Efforts are focused on fighting the fire's western flank, officials said.

An aerial image of a wildfire burning southeast of Fort McMurray is posing a threat to the community of Saprae Creek Estates. Residents of the hamlet have been placed on a evacuation notice. (Alberta Wildfire)

"Yesterday crews and resources worked to strengthen the fire guard along the western flank of the wildfire," Alberta Wildfire said in a statement Monday.

"They are working towards containing that flank of the fire and then they will work towards controlling it.

Helicopter crews worked throughout the night to douse the flames and that work will continue as long as conditions permit, officials said.

Airtankers will also lay down more fire retardant along the fire's edge as crews continue to fight along the the western flank of the wildfire and work to douse a nearby spot fire.

Four firefighting crews, six helicopters, two airtanker groups, and five heavy equipment groups will be working on the fire Monday.

In a statement to social media Sunday, municipal officials said people should pay attention to official wildfire updates, make an emergency plan with family, and pack a 72-hour emergency kit.

Jody Butz, regional fire chief and director of emergency management for the municipality, said crews continue to fight the fire from the ground and the air.

"We're hopeful," Butz said in an interview Monday.

"We're going to watch the heat of the day to see how the fire reacts to the temperatures to see if our mitigation efforts were successful.

"We're staying focused on the fire but we're feeling really good about it. We're optimistic that all the suppression efforts were successful yesterday."

Butz said the fire is a reminder that all residents need to be prepared for the wildfire season ahead.

RCMP have urged residents to stay away from the scene of the fire and said drones flying in the area were interfering with firefighting efforts.

In a statement Sunday, RCMP said drones had temporarily grounded helicopters that had been deployed to area.

Provincial wildfire officials have been warning that dry conditions over the winter have increased the risk of wildfires this spring, and warmer temperatures and rising winds over the weekend could increase the risk of fires.

As of Monday, 65 wildfires were burning across Alberta, including three that are burning out of control.

In 2016, a massive wildfire engulfed the city of Fort McMurray, driving thousands of people from their homes and destroying 2,400 buildings.

Meanwhile, near Slave Lake, a wildfire fire in the area of Canyon Creek triggered a temporary closure of Highway 2 on Sunday afternoon.

For several hours, sections of the highway near the fire were experiencing poor visibility due to the smoke. The highway has since re-opened.