An evacuation order for Grande Prairie County has been downgraded to an alert after the wildfire four kilometers east of Teepee Creek moved away from the community, according to the Alberta Emergency Alert website. The alert is still in effect for areas including Kleskun Creek North to Township Road 742, the Riverstone Golf Course, and from Township Road 750 to Township Road 730 and Range Road 31 to Smoky River. Residents in these areas must be prepared for a possible evacuation. The RCMP has urged residents to follow evacuation orders and alerts, as entry is not permitted while an evacuation order is in place.
Meanwhile, evacuation alerts remain in place for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek, Anzac, Fort McMurray First Nation #468, Gregoire Lake Estates, and Rickards Landing Industrial Park in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB). The fire is located approximately 12 kilometers west of Highway 63, which remains open.
Alberta Wildfire crews and resources have been actively working on the fire, including using night vision helicopters to drop water on the southeastern edge overnight. Six wildland firefighter crews, 13 helicopters, and airtankers were deployed throughout Sunday, while heavy equipment established a fire guard on the northeast edge.
According to an alert posted on the RMWB website, fire behavior is subdued this morning but is expected to increase as temperatures rise. Winds from the southeast at 20 km/h are anticipated to push the wildfire away from Highway 63 and towards the Athabasca River.
