Fires burning in Northern Alberta cause smoky haze in Edmonton

Haze in Edmonton

EDMONTON - A smoky haze lingers in Edmonton this morning, and it's coming from major wildfires burning many hundreds of kilometres north of the city.

A wildfire information officer with the Alberta government confirms the thick smoke is coming from the massive blazes. Janelle Robb says wind blowing from the northwest carried the smoke further south overnight. Robb says the largest of the three fires is now estimated to have burned approximately 155,000 hectares and is out of control.

As of 1:30pm Friday, Alberta Sustainable Resource Development said there are 25 fires burning in the Northern Hay region, 13 of those are classified as out of control. Zama City is one of the worst fires currently burning. There are 600 firefighters working on the fires, and 20 members are from the Yukon.

The wildfire near La Crete

SRD is appealing to other provinces for 100 more firefighters. However, it says every province is dealing with hot and dry conditions, so it's a difficult time to find extra resources. Weather is the biggest factor in dousing these fires, but there is no immediate reprieve in sight.

Firefighters from High Level were dispatched to Zama City on Thursday to wet down the roofs of houses and other structures in case the fire turns toward the tiny hamlet in northwest Alberta.

The fire spawned by a lightning strike on June 21 has consumed 100,000 hectares and was 10 kilometres north of Zama City on Wednesday before taking a slight turn in direction and slowing down. The blaze remained about a dozen kilometres from the remote oil and gas outpost in Mackenzie County on Thursday night, and officials were monitoring it as winds that had died to a bare whisper all day began to pick up.

“It has been maintaining its distance and just creeping along, but we sent firemen up there from High Level to sprinkler things as a precautionary measure,” said John Klassen, director of operations for Mackenzie County. “Potentially it could become a dangerous situation should it take a turn for the worse.”

Rob Harris, fire officer for Alberta’s Environment and Sustainable Resources Development, said 119 firefighters were battling to contain the fire, one of a dozen burning out of control in the sparsely populated county. A team of 21 firefighters from the Yukon were expected to arrive Thursday night.

The province sent a request for assistance across Canada for an additional 110 firefighters on Wednesday but has yet to receive any commitments, likely because other provinces are facing the same hot and dry conditions that have fuelled the flames in Alberta.

There are 49 fires burning around the province in all, the most serious being the one approaching Zama City, another one 15 kilometres southeast of La Crete and a third fire 30 kilometres north of Meander River. The fire near La Crete has grown from 1,000 hectares to 2,500 in the past 24 hours, while the Meander River blaze has nearly doubled to 3,000 hectares.

Neither of those fires is considered a threat to lives, although crews have been taking steps to protect structures in case conditions worsen.

A total of 324 people have registered at an evacuation centre set up in the town hall at High Level, including 160 residents who were ordered to leave Zama City on Wednesday and 164 who voluntarily left the Dene Tha’ First Nation. Only firefighters and government officials are being allowed to enter Zama City, more than 900 kilometres northwest of Edmonton.

“Right now it is not in any imminent danger, but depending on the winds and weather conditions everything could change quite quickly,” Klassen said. “We are trying to stay ahead of the game rather than being reactive.”

A team of about 100 firefighters is battling the fire near La Crete, with another 100 working the fire north of Meander River. The province also has aircraft and heavy machinery at all locations.

Frank Oberle, the MLA for Peace River, said Thursday the fires at La Crete and Meander River seem well in hand, but expressed concern about the one close to Zama City.

“That fire still poses a great deal of danger,” Oberle said.

Winds had pushed smoke from the fires as far as Saskatoon yesterday.

Due to air quality deterioration caused by fires continuing to burn in northern Alberta, Alberta Health Services is issuing a precautionary fire smoke advisory for Edmonton Zone. 

View from the road in Zama City;Alberta

Residents of, and visitors to, Edmonton are now advised to take precautions against potential health risks associated with current air conditions. An air quality advisory issued for North Zone earlier this week also remains in effect. 

Smoke conditions can vary with weather conditions and prevailing winds. Because air quality is expected to be variable across Edmonton Zone, this advisory will remain in effect until further notice. 

Although minor smoke conditions do not typically cause health concerns in most healthy individuals, as smoke conditions become more severe, even healthy individuals may experience irritation of eyes, throat and possibly shortness of breath.  

Individuals with respiratory conditions (such as COPD and asthma), and individuals with existing cardiovascular conditions (such as angina, previous heart attack and congestive heart failure), are likely to notice a worsening of symptoms, due to fine particulate matter in air.  As such, individuals with pre-existing respiratory or cardiovascular conditions are advised to take the precautions their physicians have previously recommended when experiencing worsening of symptoms. 

Individuals experiencing symptoms can also call Health Link Alberta 24 hours a day, seven days a week, toll-free at 1.866.408.LINK (5465), to speak to a registered nurse.