State of Local Emergency declared due to wildfire activity in the region

Continue to follow trusted sources of information for up-to-date information

At 1:30 the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) declared a State of Local Emergency (SOLE) due to wildfire activity associated with MWF-017.

“Our main priority is the protection of life and property.” says Jody Butz, Regional Fire Chief and Director of Emergency Management. “It’s important to note that fire activity is very different than the 2016 Horse River wildfire and we are well positioned to respond to this situation.”

Declaring a SOLE allows the Municipality to access additional resources and powers under the Emergency Management Act.

The SOLE applies to the entire Municipality. However, the immediate safety concerns are for Beacon Hill, Greyling Terrace, Abasand and Prairie Creek. This means these communities should be prepared to leave within two-hours if instructed to do so. This does not mean they need to evacuate in two hours, but they should be ready to leave with two-hours if the situation changes. This is not an evacuation order, but a notice. If the fire behavior changes significantly, we will update the community immediately.

An evacuation alert remains in place for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek, Anzac

Fort McMurray First Nation #468, Gregoire Lake Estates and Rickards Landing Industrial Park.These communities are not on a two-hour evacuation notice.

Trusted Sources of Information

During an emergency, it is crucial to follow trusted information sources such as RMWB.ca and Alberta Wildfire. Always rely on rmwb.ca and Alberta Wildfire for accurate updates. For the latest evacuation alerts, visit rmwb.ca/alerts. For the most trusted and recent wildfire information, download the Alberta Wildfire App or visit www.alberta.ca/wildfire-status.

For more information or questions, connect with Pulse at 780-743-7000, 1-800-973-9663 or online at rmwb.ca/pulse.

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