Update 6: Northwest Alberta wildfire (May 27 at 5 p.m.)

Press Release

May 27, 2019

High temperatures and dry conditions continue across Northern Alberta. About 3,400 evacuees have applied online for evacuee support, and more than $3.4 million in support has been distributed.

Current situation

• The Chuckegg Creek Wildfire is burning approximately three kilometres southwest of the Town of High Level in Mackenzie County.
• This out-of-control wildfire has grown to more than 127,000 hectares.
• Communities in the north of the province may experience heavy smoke from the fires in the next 24 hours.
• Resources on the ground include about 400 wildland firefighters, 194 structural fighters and staff on the ground, supported by 28 helicopters, eight air tankers and 46 pieces of heavy equipment.
• Evacuation centres have registered approximately 4,470 people as of May 27 at noon.
• A voluntary evacuation is in place for Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement and areas north of High Level.
• The province is providing one-time financial support to evacuees displaced by northwest wildfires.
• You may qualify for the evacuation payment if you were:
  • living, working or vacationing in the affected area
  • forced to leave due to an evacuation order
  • paid for most of your costs to evacuate
• Albertans who qualify will receive $1,250 for each adult and $500 for each dependent child.
• Applications are open:
  • Online (Interac e-transfers may take 24 hours to go through)
  • In person at evacuation reception centres
  • If you require assistance registering, call 310-4455. If you’re having technical issues, contact My Alberta Digital ID at 1-844-643-2789 (Monday to Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).
• Evacuees can apply online for employment insurance using this code: 4812014812201900. Visit Service Canada to apply: www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei.html
• Detailed information is available on emergency.alberta.ca, which is updated frequently.

Reception centres

• Reception centres are open at:
  • Slave Lake Legacy Centre (400 6 Avenue NE)
  • High Prairie Gordon Buchanan Centre (5413 49 Street)
  • Grande Prairie Regional College (10726 106 Avenue)
  • Peace River Misery Mountain Ski Hill (10408 89 Street)
  • La Crete Heritage Centre (25411 Township Road 1060, south of La Crete)
  • Fort Vermilion Community Cultural Complex (5001 44 Avenue)
  • Hay River Dene Wellness Centre (In K’atl’ Odeeche First Nation, 17 kilometres east of Hay River)

Highway closures

• Highway 35 remains closed between five kilometres and 30 kilometres south of High Level. Highway 697 and the La Crete Ferry is identified as a detour. La Crete Ferry is operational with wait times of approximately one hour.
• Highway 58 from High Level to approximately 90 kilometres (west of High Level) from the junction with Range Road 45A remains closed.

Insurance information

• Evacuated residents should retain all their receipts for food purchases, accommodation and other related expenses to provide to their insurer for possible reimbursement.
• Most home and tenant’s insurance policies provide reasonable coverage for living expenses during an evacuation. Contact your insurance company for details.
• Albertans who cannot remember or reach their insurance provider, can contact the Insurance Bureau of Canada at 1-844-227-5422 or by email at askibcwest@ibc.ca. Information to understand your fire insurance coverage is online at www.ibc.ca/ab/disaster/alberta-wildfire.

Justice and legal matters

• High Level Court is closed. Call the Peace River Court at 780-624-6256 for inquiries on High Level Court matters scheduled for this week and next. All scheduled Fort Vermilion matters will be heard in Peace River. Call the Peace River Court at 780-624-6256 if you’re unable to register your name and phone number. Matters will be held by phone if necessary.
• In many cases, tickets can be paid online. For any other inquiries requiring direction from the court about Peace River and Fort Vermilion court matters, call the Peace River Court at 780-624-6256.
• If you have an appointment with a probation officer in an evacuated area, report to the community corrections office nearest you. If you do not know where the nearest one is, call 780-427-3109 (to call toll free, first dial 310-0000).
• If you are an intermittent server in an evacuated area, call the Peace River Correctional Centre at 780-624-5480 (to call toll free, first dial 310-0000) for direction.

Education

• Grade 12 students in the High Level area are eligible for an exemption from their diploma exam. When a student is exempt from the diploma exam, their classroom mark will be their final mark.
• These students could also write the exam if they choose to do so and can safely make it to a school, either in their community or another. Students can also defer writing the diploma exams to August.
• For grades 6 and 9 provincial achievement tests – the students can be excused from writing. Alternately, these students could write the tests if they can safely make it to a school, either in their community or another.
• Once students and their families have made a decision, they should contact their school division.

Air quality

• Much of northern Alberta is under a special air quality statement.
• Alberta Wildfire recommends checking FireSmoke.ca to find out where the smoke is coming from.

Boil Water Advisory

• Boil Water Advisories remain in place for Meander River (Dene Tha’ First Nation), John D’Or Prairie, Fox Lake and North Tall Cree (Little Red River Cree Nation). Although power has been restored, the Boil Water Advisories will remain in place until water testing is complete.

Health

• Mental health support is available by calling Alberta’s 24-hour Mental Health Help Line at 1-877-303-2642.
• Alberta Health Services is providing supports to the receptions centres. These supports include addiction and mental health, indigenous health liaisons, nursing, emergency medical services, public health, home care and more.

Pets and livestock

• Animal Control are collecting household pets that have been left behind. Pets will be moved to a safe and secure location outside of the Town of High Level. If you have left your household pet behind, please contact 780-926-2201.
• Mackenzie County has stock trailers to assist with livestock. transport. Visit www.highlevel.cafor more information.

Donations and volunteers

• The towns of High Level and Slave Lake are not accepting material donations and do not require volunteers at this time.
• The Town of Slave Lake has set up an online form for offers http://www.slavelake.ca/FormCenter/Other-27/High-Level-Evacuation-Volunteer-Sign-Up-159.
• Check the Mackenzie County Facebook page for an up-to-date list of donations needed and drop-off locations.

Canada Post

• Canada Post has suspended mail delivery services in the communities of High Level, Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement, Meander River, Chateh and Keg River.
• Mail will be held at the Edmonton depot until mail service resumes.
• Check the Canada Post website for updates.

Income Support, Alberta Supports and AISH

• Residents receiving benefits from the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) or the Income Support program by cheque rather than electronic deposit, and who are affected by the wildfire in High Level, can visit their nearest Alberta Supports Centres Alberta Supports[www.alberta.ca/alberta-supports.aspx] to pick up their cheque.
• If you are in La Crete, you can pick up your cheque at the local reception centre. If you receive your benefits via direct deposit, your payment will be deposited as usual.
• For information on child intervention and child care, residents may contact 1-800-638-0715.
• If persons with developmental disabilities, their families or contracted service providers need human, financial, or in-kind assistance to connect with loved ones, find accommodations or provide assistance to individuals receiving PDD supports, please contact the nearest Alberta Supports Centre for assistance. You can find a list of Alberta Supports Centres online Alberta Supports www.alberta.ca/alberta-supports.aspx or you can call the Alberta Supports contact Centre at 1-800-232-7215 provincewide between 7:30 a.m. and 8 p.m., Monday to Friday.
• For additional information on social benefits, affected individuals can contact Alberta Supportsat www.alberta.ca/alberta-supports.aspx or call 1-877-644-9992, Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Health card, driver’s licences, ID cards, birth certificate

• To get a replacement Health Care Insurance Card at no cost, you can contact 780-427-1432 or toll free at 310-0000 and then 780-427-1432 when prompted. Your Alberta Personal Health Card can be mailed to a temporary address.
• If driver’s licences, ID cards, and/or birth certificates were left behind during the evacuation, replacement cards and certificates can be ordered free of charge at a registry agent. A list of registry locations can be found at https://www.alberta.ca/registry-agents.aspx

Other information

• Residents driving through the area should carry enough fuel as there may be shortages.

Public information

• You can call 310-4455 for more information.

Aerial footage of the northwest wildfires

• B-roll of the Chuckegg Creek fire in northwest Alberta, taken Sunday, May 26, can be downloaded here.

Backgrounder

Previous updates

Update 5: May 26, 2019 (4 p.m.)

• The Chuckegg Creek Wildfire is burning approximately three kilometres southwest of the Town of High Level in Mackenzie County.
• This out-of-control wildfire has grown to more than 105,000 hectares.
• Communities in the north of the province may experience heavy smoke from the fires in the next 24 hours.
• Resources on the ground include about 400 wildland firefighters, 194 structural fighters and staff on the ground, supported by 28 helicopters, eight air tankers and 46 pieces of heavy equipment.
• Evacuation centres have registered approximately 4,300 people as of May 26 at noon.
• A voluntary evacuation is in place for Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement and areas north of High Level.
• The province is providing one-time financial support to evacuees displaced by northwest wildfires.
• You may qualify for the evacuation payment if you were:
  • living, working or vacationing in the affected area
  • forced to leave due to an evacuation order
  • paid for most of your costs to evacuate
• Albertans who qualify will receive $1,250 for each adult and $500 for each dependent child.
• Applications are open:
  • Online – started Sunday, May 26 (Interac e-transfers may take 24 hours to go through)
  • In person at evacuation reception centres – starting Monday, May 27
  • If you require assistance registering, call 310-4455
• You can apply online for employment insurance using this code: 4812014812201900. The regular wait time is waived. To apply: www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei.html

• Detailed information is available on emergency.alberta.ca, which is updated frequently.

Update 4: May 24, 2019 (5 p.m.)

• The Chuckegg Creek Wildfire is burning approximately three kilometres southwest of the Town of High Level in Mackenzie County.
• This out-of-control wildfire has grown to almost 100,000 hectares.
• Resources on the ground include about 261 wildland firefighters, 154 structural fighters and staff on the ground, supported by 28 helicopters, eight air tankers and 46 pieces of heavy equipment.
• Continuing dry and windy conditions in most of Alberta have increased the danger of forest fires.
• Evacuation centres have registered approximately 3,700 people as of May 24 at 2 p.m.
• A voluntary evacuation is in place for Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement and areas north of High Level.
• The province will provide one-time financial support to evacuees displaced by northwest wildfires.
• You may qualify for the evacuation payment if you were:
  • living, working or vacationing in the affected area
  • forced to leave due to an evacuation order
  • paid for most of your costs to evacuate
• Albertans who qualify will receive $1,250 for each adult and $500 for each dependent child.
• Applications will open:
  • Online – starting Sunday, May 26 (Interac e-transfers may take 24 hours to go through)
  • In person at evacuation reception centres – starting Monday, May 27
  • If you require assistance registering, call 310-4455
• Alberta Health Services evacuated 19 patients from the Manning Community Health Centre due to smoke from the wildfires.
• Detailed information is available on emergency.alberta.ca, which is updated frequently.
• Alberta Emergency Alerts has cancelled the High Level and Bushe River Reserve emergency alerts and have consolidated them into a larger Mackenzie County alert.

Update 3: May 23, 2019 (4:50 p.m.)

• The Chuckegg Creek Wildfire is burning approximately three kilometres south of the Town of High Level in Mackenzie County.
• This out-of-control wildfire is almost 92,000 hectares.
• Alberta Wildfire, Alberta Emergency Management Agency and local authorities are cooperating in the response.
• Albertans should be prepared to be away from home longer than initially planned.
• Evacuees are asked to report to reception centres in Peace River, High Prairie, Grande Prairie, Slave Lake, Fort Vermilion and Hay River.
• Firefighters are focusing efforts on containing the wildfire outside High Level.
• Yesterday, a break in conditions allowed a controlled burn between the wildfire and the town to consume materials that could have become fuel for the wildfire.
• Peace River is reporting reduced visibility due to the smoke which is expected to stay until tomorrow.
• Resources on the ground include about 143 wildland firefighters, 154 structural fighters and staff on the ground, supported by 28 helicopters, air tankers, 10 structural protection units and heavy machinery.
• Continuing dry and windy conditions in most of Alberta have increased the danger of forest fires.
• Fire bans and off-highway vehicle restrictions are now in place for central and northern areas of the province.
• Approximately 5,000 people have been evacuated from High Level and the neighbouring communities.
• Mandatory evacuation orders are in place for the Town of High Level and parts of Mackenzie County south of High Level.
• Dene Tha’ First Nation declared an evacuation order for Bushe River, Meander River and Chateh.
• A voluntary evacuation is in place for Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement and areas north of High Level.
• Alberta Health Services evacuated 15 patients from the Manning Community Health Centre due to smoke from the wildfires.
• The emergency department at Manning Community Health Centre remains open.
• Power, wireless services and gas have been restored to the Town of High Level, Mackenzie County and the Dene Tha’ First Nation.
• Detailed information is available on emergency.alberta.ca, which is updated frequently.

Update 2: May 22, 2019 (4:50 p.m.)

• The Chuckegg Creek Wildfire is burning approximately five kilometres south of the Town of High Level within Mackenzie County.
• This out-of-control wildfire is almost 92,000 hectares.
• Alberta Wildfire, Alberta Emergency Management Agency and local authorities are cooperating in the response.
• Alberta Wildfire has about 76 firefighters and staff on the ground, supported by nine helicopters, air tankers, 10 structural protection units and heavy machinery.
• Winds are forecast from the east and northeast, driving the fire away from High Level and neighbouring communities.
• Continuing dry and windy conditions in most of Alberta have increased the danger of forest fires. Fire bans and off-highway vehicle restrictions are now in place for central and northern areas of the province.
• Approximately 5,000 people have been evacuated from High Level and the neighbouring communities.
• Mandatory evacuation orders are in place for the Town of High Level and parts of Mackenzie County south of High Level.
• Dene Tha’ First Nation declared an evacuation order for Bushe River, Meander River and Chateh.
• Detailed information is available on emergency.alberta.ca, which is updated frequently.
• Mental health support is available by calling Alberta’s 24-hour Mental Health Help Line at 1-877-303-2642.

Update 1: May 21, 2019 (4:50 p.m.)

• The Chuckegg Creek Wildfire is burning approximately five kilometres south of the Town of High Level within Mackenzie County.
• This out-of-control wildfire is almost 80,000 hectares.
• Alberta Wildfire, Alberta Emergency Management Agency and local authorities are cooperating in the response.
• Alberta Wildfire has about 90 firefighters and staff on the ground, supported by 25 helicopters, air tankers, 10 structural protection units and heavy machinery.
• Hot and dry conditions in northern Alberta are forecast to continue for the foreseeable future, with the fire danger expected to increase.
• Evacuation orders are in place for the Town of High Level and parts of Mackenzie County south of High Level.
• Dene Tha’ First Nation declared an evacuation order for Bushe River and Meander River. Chateh is under an evacuation alert, with high-risk individuals being evacuated.
• Approximately 5,000 people have been evacuated.

Detailed information is available on emergency.alberta.ca, which is updated frequently.

Media inquiries

Provincial Operations Centre Media Line
780-427-0314

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