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.

These wildfires are located approximately five kilometres northwest of Smith and 30 kilometres east of the Town of Slave Lake. SWF086 is still classified as out of control at approximately 4,802 ha.

SWF085 (approx 39 ha) and SWF087 (appox 1,036 ha) have been classified as being held. Being held means that the fires are not expected to grow beyond established boundaries. 

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. Heavy equipment has established guard all around the north excursion from earlier this week.  

Today, firefighters are working alongside heavy equipment and fire guard has been established from the southwest to the southeast and moving to the north to the excursion from earlier this week. Smoke will be present in the area but hotspots are being worked by helicopters actively bucketing along the perimeter. While ground crews continue to make up ground along the north and east side of the fire boundary. 

The Saulteaux Complex will experience south-southwest winds at 15km/h and a max temperature of 24 degrees.

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.

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.

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.

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