Wildfires forcing 10,000 people from their homes in Alberta
Posted May 30, 2019 11:06 pm.
Last Updated May 30, 2019 11:18 pm.
HIGH LEVEL, Alta.(CP) — The Alberta government says wildfires raging across the northern part of the province have forced about 10,000 people from their homes.
RELATED: Wildfires force more people out of their homes in northern Alberta
The updated figure was given after a day of hot temperatures and gusty winds lead to rapid growth of several blazes burning out-of-control.
The number of those forced from their homes in northern Alberta has nearly doubled to 10,000 Thursday. Officials in the Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement believe homes have been lost and are frustrated with the communication from the province. Carly Robinson reports. pic.twitter.com/OIPMvwwBlx
— CityNews 1130 Vancouver (Inactive) (@news1130) May 31, 2019
About 5,000 people have been out of their homes in and around High Level for more than a week and a series of smaller communities, including Wabasca, the Bigstone Cree Nation and Chipewyan Lake Village, have fallen under evacuation orders since Wednesday.
People in Slave Lake, a town that was partially destroyed in a 2011 blaze, have been told to be prepared to leave with eight hours notice because of a blaze that the mayor says is burning about 30 kilometres away.
RELATED: Hot and dry conditions have crews preparing for more wildfires in northwest B.C.
Smoke from the fires has enveloped points south, including Edmonton, in a thick, acrid, haze that has limited visibility and made it difficult to breathe.
The government says weather forecasts for the next two weeks will make fighting the fires difficult.
