Environment

Wildfires in Northern Alberta - Highway 63 closed

by Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke | June 16, 2009 at 10:43 am

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Firefighters in Alberta are still battling 22 out of control fires. Close to 100 fires have been put out. These fires have been sparked by lightning strikes since Friday.

A major highway. Hwy 63, that connects Fort MacMurray, near the Alberta Oil Sands, with Edmonton has been closed. This move was caused by a 2000 hectare fire moving dangerously close to the Highway. At present traffic is being rerouted to Secondary Highway 881.

The RCMP in Fort MacMurray is recommending that motorists stay off Highway 881 as smoke from a fire at Hazel Lake near Lac La Biche has smoke drifting on the highway greatly reducing visibility.

Highway 63 normally is a challenge with all the industrial traffic on it. This will make the challenge even greater with the reroute to Secondary Highway 881. About 4000 vehicles travel on Highway 63 daily.

The massive fire is near Grayling Creek and Gregoire Tower approximately 45 km South of Fort MacMurray.

Firefighters are battling 22 out-of-control fires in northern Alberta after putting out close to 100 blazes sparked by lightning since Friday.

A 2,000 hectare fire is now threatening one of the province's busiest highways. The high winds are pushing the flames dangerously close to Highway 63 and traffic has now been detoured to Highway 881. There is no word on how long the highway will be closed for.

The massive blaze is near Grayling Creek and Gregoire Tower, about 45 kilometres south of Fort McMurray.

Update: 6:10 pm 17 Jun - Lighting strikes continue to be the biggest enemy fuelling new wildfires. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 100,000 lightning strikes have hit North Central Alberta fuelling new fires. The problem with lightning strikes is that they smoulder for days before they emerge as a wildfire. Tonight additional help with arrive from Mexico and tommorrow more from Ontario.

Update: Highway 63 has been opened for now but could be closed anytime if the situation warrants.

Update as of 0615 MDT: Fires continue to rage near Fort MacMurray. Because of the danger of the fire and the area, it is difficult for firefighters to fight this fire on the ground. Heavy Equipment is used to build fireguards while helicopters attack the fire from the air.

Fire crews from across Canada and Mexico are expected to arrive today to assist with combating out of control fires across northern Alberta.