Photo: Jarvis Nanooch
A 4,383 hectare wildfire has forced residents of Fox Lake to flee their homes.
The Chief of the Little Red River Cree Nation confirmed 20 homes, the police station and the Northern Store have been lost in the fire.
On Thursday afternoon, Chief Conroy Sewepagaham updated community members.
Currently 34 Alberta Wildfire firefighters, four helicopters, two heavy helicopters, heavy equipment and air tankers are in the area.
“18 firefighters, four helicopters, heavy equipment and airtankers have been requested. More resources have been requested and are heading out to the fire today. Alberta Wildfire has mobilized an Incident Management Team and they are expected to arrive tomorrow. A structure protect plan is being made and four type six engines will be in the community today.”
Officials say the fire has not crossed the Peace River, and thankfully no injuries have been reported
Little Red River Cree Nation is made up of three Woodland Cree communities: Fox Lake, Garden River and John D’Or Prairie. The majority of the population lives in Fox Lake
High Level Mayor Crystal McAteer said her community was preparing to host about 1,800 evacuees.
Wildfires throughout Alberta continued to force evacuations and cause alerts on Thursday.
There were 72 active wildfires in Alberta, including 44 new ones, according to an update from the province at 6 p.m.
States of emergency were declared in Lac St. Anne County, Beaver Lake Cree Nation, Rainbow Lake and Brazeau County.
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