Effective 3:00pm on Monday, May 22, the mandatory evacuation notice is lifted for residents along the 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.

Keep watching the MD website and social media channels for critical alerts.

For more information, phone 1-866-FYI-FIRE. Report wildfires immediately by calling 310-FIRE or #FIRE on your cell phone. The MD thanks residents for their cooperation in reducing fire risk and keeping our communities safe. 

Additional information may be found at albertafirebans.ca.