Wildfires prompt evacuation alert in Northern Alberta, ENR warns of South Slave Fires

This photo of a fire near High Level, AB was taken late in May

Residents of High Level, Alberta, not far from the NWT border, are reportedly being told to be ready to evacuate at any time as an out-of-control wildfire, fanned by strong winds and dry conditions, continues to grow.

The Town of High Level announced Sunday that residents should fill their gas tanks, gather important documents and prepare food and water in case an evacuation order is issued.

The town also says fire crews will be setting up sprinklers in various places.

The fire has the attention of people in the South Slave region but no evacuation plans have been announced yet.

Meanwhile – the territorial government is warning against “carelessness” after people caused three fires in the past 24 hours, according to a statement issued Sunday.

There was a fire near the Pine Point mine area, and two outside of Fort Smith, according to a online wildland fire update post.

All three fires were caused by people, the statement said.

That brings to at least ten the number of human-caused fires this year in the NWT.

About the Author

John McFadden
John has been in the broadcast journalism industry since the 1980s. He has been a reporter in Yellowknife since 2012 and joined CKLB in January of 2018. John covers the crime and court beat as well as reporting on other areas including politics, business, entertainment and sports. He won seven national community newspaper awards while he was a journalist with Northern News Services Limited (NNSL). John worked in Ontario before coming North including stints as a TV sportscaster in Peterborough and senior news writer for CBC and CTV in downtown Toronto.