Weather not helping as crews battle fire that forced Edson, Alta., to evacuate

By The Canadian Press on June 10, 2023.

EDSON, Alta. – Extreme fire behaviour is anticipated for a wildfire that prompted the evacuation of the town of Edson early Friday morning, officials in Alberta said as local leaders urged anyone who stayed behind to get out immediately.

Luc Mercier, the chief operating officer of Yellowhead County, said in a video update Saturday with other municipal officials that a finger of the massive blaze was just 1.5 kilometres south of Edson’s boundary.

A status update from the province issued Saturday morning said sustained winds, high temperatures and dry fuels are making firefighting “extremely dangerous” and that crews will only be working in areas that are safe.

A cold front is forecast to move into the area this evening, but the provincial update said it’s anticipated to bring gusty, sustained winds from the west which will further challenge firefighters.

“We understand that it’s hard to leave your property but the reality is officials will not be able to help you if this (fire) does turn,” the town’s chief administrative officer, Christine Beveridge, warned in Saturday’s video, adding crews were working to protect structures.

“It’s Mother Nature and this is a disaster, so we need to make sure that they can do the work that they are here to do rather than trying to help remove residents on a one-on-one basis,” she said.

Edson’s mayor, Kevin Zahara, called the situation “dire” and said the evacuation order is expected to last until at least Wednesday.

“Don’t expect to be coming back to our community in a day or two. This is going to be in the long haul,” he said in the video.

Zahara also noted that highways in the area could close later Saturday, adding to the urgency for anyone remaining in the town to leave.

Early Friday evening, government officials said the fire burning near the community of about 8,400 jumped fire guards and moved closer to populated areas, including the town.

It isn’t Edson’s first evacuation this year — everyone in town was forced out for three days in early May because of another wildfire.

The province said that through Friday night, an Australian contingent of firefighters worked with Yellowhead County to patrol and set up structure protection throughout the community of Ansell, located a short distance southwest of Edson.

Buses are still leaving from various evacuation points for anyone who doesn’t have their own way out.

“We need you to get on the bus,” Beveridge said.

The forecast of high temperatures, low humidity and wind were also expected to challenge crews fighting other fires in northern Alberta, including a fire that forced the evacuation of Fort Chipewyan in northeastern Alberta on May 30.

Residents there are still not allowed to return, and the community had some of the worst air quality in the province Friday due to smoke.

A provincial update said the temperature was expected to reach 33 degrees on Saturday in the Fort Chipewyan area with a relative humidity of about 25 percent.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 10, 2023.

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