Update 24: Alberta wildfire update (Sept. 5, 3 p.m.)

Current situation (as of 3 p.m., Sept. 5)

• There are 45 wildfires currently burning across Alberta in the Forest Protection Area, and one mutual aid fire.
  • One is classified as out of control, seven are being held and 37 are under control.
  • There have been eight new wildfires since yesterday.
• Since Jan. 1, there have been 1,081 wildfires in the Forest Protection Area, burning more than 674,000 hectares.
• More than 1,300 Alberta firefighters, contract firefighters and imported firefighters are currently battling wildfires across the province.
• Resources currently being used include heavy equipment, air tankers, helicopters and night vision helicopters.
• Alberta has imported firefighters and support staff from Australia and New Zealand.
• Alberta has deployed two Wildland Urban Interface structural protection teams to Fort Providence and Fort Simpson in the Northwest Territories to support wildfire response efforts. The two teams deployed are from High Level and Slave Lake.
• Airtankers and staff exported to New Brunswick have returned home.
• Information about wildfires can be found by visiting the Alberta Wildfire Status Dashboard.

Orders and alerts

• Updates on evacuation orders are available on https://www.alberta.ca/emergency.
• The Municipal District of Opportunity No. 17's evacuation order for Chipewyan Lake remains in effect.
  • Reception centre at Lakeview Sports Centre, 102 Opportunity Drive, Wabasca-Desmarais.
• Alberta Emergency Alerts are issued by local authorities and are updated at their discretion. For the best source of information on the status of evacuation orders and alerts, residents are encouraged to follow their local authorities' preferred communication channels for updates.
• People living in Alberta are encouraged to download the Alberta Emergency Alert mobile app, which immediately pushes all alerts out to subscribers.

Fire bans

• Fire advisories are in place for the Calgary, Rocky Mountain House, Edson, Whitecourt, Grande Prairie, High Level, Lac La Biche, Fort McMurray and Slave Lake forest areas, and a fire restriction is in place for a portion of the Peace River Forest Area.
• Please confirm advisories, restrictions or bans for your area at albertafirebans.ca.
• Fire bans outside the Forest Protection Area are the responsibility of municipalities and counties.
• Everyone has a role to play in wildfire prevention. In hot and dry conditions, be careful during activities that might start a fire, such as backyard burning, off-highway vehicle use, campfires, and farm equipment use.
• Agricultural equipment can inadvertently start a wildfire. If you are using farm equipment, take extra precautions by having firefighting equipment on hand.
• If you are camping or recreating outdoors, be sure to do so safely. Never leave a campfire unattended and always fully extinguish it when you are done. Soak it, stir it, and soak it again, until the coals are cool to the touch.
• Follow all fire bans and restrictions to avoid new fire starts. If you see smoke or flames in the forest, call 310-FIRE to report it.
• Applying FireSmart principles to homes and property can mitigate the risk of wildfire damage. Removing flammable materials and vegetation around the property and preventing embers from accumulating can help protect your home from wildfires. To learn more, visit FireSmart Alberta.

Air quality

• Visit Wildfire Smoke Information for air quality monitoring information to make informed decisions about outdoor activities to protect your health. While wildfire smoke will affect air quality in parts of Alberta, the presence of smoke does not necessarily mean there is fire near your community. Find information about the status of active wildfires and wildfire updates at Alberta Wildfire.

Roads and highways

• There are no road closures from wildfires.
• 511 Alberta is the best source of real time information as conditions change on our highways. Follow on X (formerly known as Twitter) @511alberta.
• Alberta highways that are affected by the wildfires will open and close frequently depending on safety and weather conditions. Be patient and respect the staff at the closure/detour sites - they are there with your safety in mind.

Health

• For information about wildfire resources, including mental health, visit Wildfire Resources | Alberta Health Services.

Education

• Due to ongoing remediation needs, Chipewyan Lake School has not reopened for the 2025-26 school year.
• In-person learning will take place at the temporary location of Career Pathways in Wabasca until Chipewyan Lake School is ready for reopening.
• At the request of parents and guardians, school staff will deliver and collect learning packages for students who have returned to their homes in Chipewyan Lake.

Justice and court services

• The Red Earth Creek courthouse is scheduled to reopen on Sept. 15 and the first sitting will be on Sept. 16. Until then, all matters will be heard in High Prairie. Anyone with questions can call 780-523-6600 or email [email protected].
• Visit the Alberta Courts website for the most current information regarding court scheduling.

Related information

• Active emergency updates
• Alberta Emergency Alerts
• Download the Alberta Emergency Alerts app
• Download the Alberta Wildfire app
• How to prepare for an emergency
• Wildfire smoke information
• Emergency evacuation payments
• Free admission to provincial museums and historic sites