Current wildfire status update from Greenview Emergency Operations Centre

June 10, 2023 – 7:00 pm

Please note that the information in the following update is official information as provided by Alberta Forestry. Greenview strives to provide a timely high-level summary of active wildfires within Greenview and will post updates to evacuation orders and alerts as available and provided by Alberta Forestry and the Province of Alberta, which are incredibly busy managing the current wildfire situation in the province.

Additional map resources
Fire Information for Resource Management US/CANADA

Alberta residents who are looking to provide equipment or for anyone who is trained and qualified in firefighting looking to volunteer to help in the wildfire efforts is invited to send an email outlining their desire to assist to EmergencySupportOffers@gov.ab.ca 

STURGEON LAKE COMPLEX (GWF017 & GWF023)
June 10, 2023 – 1:00 PM

The Sturgeon Lake Complex is made up of two fires. GWF017 is estimated to be 5,752 hectares in size, and GWF023 is estimated to be 3,869 hectares in size. Both fires are now classified as under control. Under control means that suppression efforts have ensured the wildfire will not spread any further. Firefighters remain on alert for new wildfires and continue to monitor those under control.

With windy weather, an increase of smoke from interior areas of the wildfires and along the perimeter may become more visible. Helicopters with buckets will action these areas and firefighters will continue to extinguish ground fires.

We ask residents to stay out of areas that have been burned by the wildfires in the area. Wildfires will make the root systems of trees weak, and any amount of wind will affect the trees in the area. Falling trees will be an ongoing hazard, and for residents’ safety, you should avoid the burned-out areas.

BALD MOUNTAIN FIRE (GWF019)
June 10, 2023 – 1:00 PM

This fire is classified as being held (BH) and is estimated to be 19,435 hectares in size. This fire is approximately 17 km west of Highway 40. This wildfire has been determined to be a lightning caused fire.

EAGLE COMPLEX – Fox Creek / Little Smoky (WWF023, GWF027, GWF040)
June 9, 2023 – 6:00 PM

WWF-023 detected on May 5, is listed as out of control at 66,503 ha. Investigation has determined that this wildfire to be caused by lightning.

GWF-027 was detected on May 13 and is out of control at 52,757 ha. This fire grew by approximately 200 ha during yesterday’s burning period. Cause for this wildfire is under investigation.

GWF-040 was detected on June 7 and is listed out of control at 3 ha. Two unit crews with assistance from army personnel are making progress in securing containment guard around this wildfire.

Dozer guards will continue their work on containment lines. Unit crews are working in priority areas on fire response. General resources will focus on areas of concern. 

More than 180 firefighters and support personnel are allocated to this fire. Partners assisting Alberta on the complex include firefighters and an incident management team from Australia, New Zealand, B.C., Idaho and the Canadian military. 19 members from the Idaho Panhandle crew arrived today and will be assisting with operations.

There are currently 15 helicopters and 8 heavy equipment groups assigned to the Eagle complex. Water trucks and air skidders are providing additional support.

Ongoing crew activities include extending and strengthening fire containment guards for both GWF-027 and WWF-023, including the extension on GWF027. This is being completed by ground crews and teams of heavy machinery teams including dozers, track hoes, bunchers and skidders. Crews are also continuing to work along priority spots on the fire line for both fires (GWF-027 and WWF-023) extinguishing active fire and patroling for hot spots. Air operations with buckets continue to support grounds crews.

Fire activity within the Eagle Complex today has included smoke over WWF023, the quieter of the two fires, with smoke and some flame over GWF-27.

Temperatures are expected to peak at 30C with no rain forecasted until Saturday evening when a cold front will move into the area early tomorrow.

While areas of the environment within the complex have not been affected or are beginning to recover, environmental risks to safety include damaged infrastructure, displaced wildlife and the possibility of wildfire returning.
To see the latest map of the wildfires in the Eagle Complex, click here.
SWEATHOUSE AREA (SWF095)
May 25, 2023 – 1:00 PM

SWF095 is located southeast of the Hamlet of Sweathouse and is estimated to be 7,216 ha in size and is classified as burning out of control. Airtankers and heavy helicopters worked on the wildfire yesterday however, under the hot and windy conditions, the wildfire continued to spread towards the north and the west. For today, strong and gusty winds are expected from the south and a wind shift is expected late this evening. Currently there is increased fire activity in the north end of the wildfire and visibility is limiting the use of aircraft at this time.

Firefighting operations on SWF095 are being conducted by the Incident Management Team on the Grizzly and Saulteaux Complexes. If you have any questions about SWF095 email wf.scx0012023-IOF.i@gov.ab.ca

EVACUATION UPDATES:

June 9, 2023 at 8:08 PM
The M D of Greenview has issued an Evacuation Order due to Wildfire.
Wildfire SWF 095, southeast of Sweathouse is burning out of control. Everyone in the effected area must evacuate now. 

Area: EVACUATION NOTICE: Everyone in TWP 69-19-W5 and TWP 68-19-W5 (South of TWP RD 700, West of RR 190, North of TWP RD 680, East of RR 200).

Instruction: Everyone in the affected area must Evacuate immediately.

A reception centre has been set up at the Horizon Inn (5204 Highway Street, Valleyview). Call (780) 524-7603 for assistance or to register as an evacuee.
Evacuees are encouraged to register either in person at the reception centre or by phone.

Evacuees are encouraged to stay with friends and family if possible, however, accommodations and subsistence assistance is available.

Click here to see the Evacuation Notice and map.

WILD HAY WILDFIRE COMPLEX (South East of Grande Cache EWF037 and EWF040)
June 10, 2023 – 4:30 PM

The Wild Hay Complex is comprised of two wildfires, EWF037 and EWF040. They are both located south of the Little Smoky River, north of the Wild Hay River and east of Hwy 40 north. The complex is 63 km north of Hinton. EWF040 is producing a lot of smoke that can be seen from far away, including from Hinton.

EWF040 remains out of control and was estimated to be 2,389 ha but has grown since its last recorded size, it escaped its wildfire boundary on June 7 and is burning mostly to north-northwest from its original area and has crossed the the Berland River and is now burning in both our forest area and the Whitecourt Forest Area. Today, firefighters anticipate that the cold front will shift the winds sometime this afternoon and push the fire towards the south.
EWF037 continues to be classified as being held at 578 ha.

Important Things to Consider:

  • Residents, businesses and industry are encouraged to proactively prepare properties as much as possible in the event of a wildfire. Read more at FireSmart/ Alberta.ca.
  • Emergency preparedness is key. Residents outside the evacuation area are reminded to be prepared by: