Alberta ends provincial state of emergency over wildfires

SWF081 fire, located at Chipewyan Lake

After exactly four weeks, Alberta is ending its Provincial State of Emergency.

The state of emergency had been declared on May 6. It expired at 11:59 p.m. Saturday.

Public Safety and Emergency Services Minister Mike Ellis said Saturday the wildfire situation remains serious with thousands still evacuated.

Ellis said work will continue to fight the wildfires and support for evacuated communities will continue despite the expiration of the provincial state of emergency.

All resourcing and support remain in place as there are still 58 wildfires burning in Alberta as of 3 p.m. on June 3. Sixteen of those are out of control.

Last week the Rocky River fire forced the evacuation of Fort Chipewyan including the Mikisew Cree First Nation, Fort Chipewyan Metis Nation and Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation. The fire remains out of control and is an estimated 21,955 hectares in size.

Officials say the wildfire is approximately seven kilometers from the town of Fort Chipewyan and 4.5 kilometers from Allison Bay. Firefighters and helicopters have been working on reinforcing containment lines, assisted by air tankers and we’re expecting some rain in that area.

Dene Tha’ First Nation (Chateh), Fox Lake, Chipewyan Lake, and Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation Area 4 are also currently under evacuation orders due to wildfires near the communities.

So far this year, 563 wildfires have burned more than 1,180,000 hectares. Of the fires that ignited, 504 have been extinguished, or 90 per cent.

Seventy-two of the wildfires this year have been determined to be caused by lightning, while 305 were human-caused. The rest remain under investigation.