GOVERNMENT WILDFIRE INFO
Get the latest wildfire intel from different federal and provincial agencies.
Evacuation Order Lifted on Old Smith Highway
The evacuation order for all residents along Old Smith Highway from Township Road 715 (Smith Bridge) to Range Road 45 (Tollenaars Bridge) has been rescinded.
Effective 3:00pm on Monday, May 22, the mandatory evacuation notice is lifted for residents along Old Smith Highway from Township Road 715 (Smith Bridge) to Range Road 45 (Tollenaars Bridge).
Displaced residents may now return home, and this locality will instead be placed on a four-hour alert.
RETURNING RESIDENTS: For affected community members, there are no barriers to entry. However, please note that this route will be open to local RESIDENTS ONLY until further notice.
Residents are asked to use the road as a way to return home; not as a regular thoroughfare (e.g.: to and from work or errands). MD operations staff will be stationed at the barricades to provide returning residents with re-entry information.
If you have taken the time to FireSmart your property over the past week (removal of debris/ignition sources from under decks and away from buildings), kindly keep everything where it is for the time being. This will provide your property with an extra level of protection in the event of a flare-up over the next few days.
PUBLIC SAFETY: The rain has helped, but fires are still active, and there are numerous hazards in the area such as ground fires and falling trees. Residents are advised to stay out of the bush.
For the time being, please use the route as a way to return home; not as a regular thoroughfare.
Also, please do not touch any firefighting equipment that remains in the area. Municipal fire crews are currently not in the area; however, there forestry crews are still activity working. As of now, no structures have been lost.
IMPORTANT NUMBERS:
- If you have any forestry-related questions or concerns, call Wildfire Information Officer Colby Lachance at 780-404-9186.
- If you have questions related to fire services, please call the Lesser Slave Regional Fire Service main line at 780-849-4110.
- Any further inquiries can be made by calling the MD office during regular business hours of 8:15 AM - 4:30 PM.
- If you see a fire that was not burning the day before, call 310 FIRE or 9-1-1.
Please continue to monitor the MD’s website and social media channels for evolving details and instructions.
Saulteaux Complex Update
Tuesday, May 30 at 1:00pm
SWF085, SWF086 and SWF087 are located approximately five kilometres northwest of Smith and 30 kilometres east of the Town of Slave Lake. All three wildfires are being held. Being held means with the current weather conditions and resources, these wildfires are not anticipated to grow past expected boundaries.
The sizes of these wildfires are as follows:
- SWF086 is 4,742 hectares
- SWF085 is 39 hectares
- SWF087 is. 1,036 hectares
Structure protection equipment has been removed from the Old Smith Highway, but structure protection is ready to be deployed if needed. Wildland firefighters with water trucks continue to work patrolling for and extinguishing ground fires in the area. Firefighters are working along the wildfire perimeter extinguishing ground fires with pump and hose around residents’ homes along the Old Smith Highway when needed. Heavy equipment has established guard all around the north end of the wildfire boundary.
Smoke may be visible from areas within the interior of the wildfire and along the perimeters. Firefighters and helicopters will be working on these areas. Heavy equipment has completed a fire guard from the southwest to the southeast and they continue to move to the north.
Visit the Alberta Emergency Alert website for further details.
For information on the Saulteaux Complex, please call Wildfire Information Officer Colby Lachance at 780-404-9186.
RE-ENTRY FACT SHEET
Click Here for important information for displaced residents returning to their homes following a wildfire.
MAY 21 VIDEO RECAP
Reeve Kerik, Deputy Reeve Spencer and Chief Administrative Officer Barry Kolenosky provide some context behind the evolving wildfire event. Take a few moments to watch the video.
This is an Alberta Emergency Alert. The MD of Lesser Slave River has issued an eight hour emergency warning.
Issued Friday, May 26 at 8:27 AM
AREA: Area: This warning is for all residents along the Old Smith Highway from Township Road 715 (Smith Bridge) to Range Road 45 (Tollenaars Bridge).
DESCRIPTION: Wildfire SWF 086 is still burning, and evacuation may become necessary if the weather changes.
INSTRUCTION: This is an eight hour evacuation warning. Everyone in the affected area must prepare for a possible evacuation. Gather pets, important documents and medication, enough food, water and supplies for at least 3 days.
Stay tuned to www.alberta.ca/emergencyalert, and local media for updates.
History:
- Alert: May 17, 2023 at 09:49 PM
- Update: May 18, 2023 at 12:45 PM
- Update: May 18, 2023 at 03:38 PM
- Update: May 18, 2023 at 05:01 PM
- Update: May 19, 2023 at 05:27 PM
- Update: May 20, 2023 at 03:15 PM
- Update: May 21, 2023 at 02:22 PM
- Update: May 22, 2023 at 02:21 PM
- Alert: May 23, 2023 at 02:26 PM
- Update: May 24, 2023 at 10:18 AM
- Update: May 25, 2023 at 11:06 AM
- Update: May 26, 2023 at 02:26 PM
WHAT TO DO
Stand by: if the MD issues a one-hour evacuation notice, an evacuation order will be given to residents in the affected areas. Please be advised that the power can go out without notice if the fire behavior changes.
Stay informed: continue to monitor this page for evolving details and instructions. You can also monitor the MD Facebook page for updates via social media.
IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
| Evacuee registration line 1 | 780-849-0608 |
| Evacuee registration line 2 | 780-805-6320 |
| Transportation assistance | 780-805-1142 |
| MD office after-hours line | 780-849-4888 |
PROVINCIAL RESOURCE LINES
| General social supports | 1-877-644-9992 |
| Financial assistance | 1-877-644-9992 |
| Mental health helpline | 1-877-302-2642 |
Communities Under Evacuation Order or Alert
Evacuation order: Evacuate now, situation is dangerous.
Evacuation alert: Be prepared to evacuate if situation worsens.
Smith Area - Evacuation Alert
- View emergency alert for details and updates
- Area: Area: Affected residents along Old Smith Highway from Smith Bridge to Tollenaars Bridge
- Alert date: Order downgraded to an Alert on May 22
East-central Area - Evacuation Alert
- View emergency alert for details and updates
- Area: Hondo to Smith, and north to Fawcett Lake area including Fawcett Lake Resort and Broken Paddle
- Alert date: May 19
Mitsue Industrial Park - Evacuation Alert
- View emergency alert for details and updates
- Area: Mitsue Industrial Park
- Alert date: May 20
72-HOUR EMERGENCY CHECKLIST
Click Here to download a handy one-pager on preparing your 72-hour emergency kit.
FEDERAL & PROVINCIAL RESOURCES
Government agencies provide a spectrum of valuable public safety news and resources. Click the images to explore these resources further.
Alberta Fire Bans
Alberta Wildfire App
Alberta Emergency Alerts
Emergency Financial Assistance
SRD Wildfire Updates
