Massive wildfires in Alberta are coughing up clouds of smoke that are obscuring the sky and are hazardous to health.
However, there’s so much smoke that wildfires are being shaded from the sun and daytime temperature highs in some areas are cooler than forecast, leading to reduced fire activity.
“When smoke clears, we can expect to see increased and significant fire behaviour due to anticipated continuing hot, dry weather,” Alberta Wildfire said in an update Monday.
About 7,500 people in Alberta were under evacuation orders.
The three communities that make up Little Red River Cree Nation — John D’Or Prairie, Fox Lake and Garden River — remain under evacuation order as the out-of-control Semo Wildfire Complex burns nearby. It’s estimated to be more than 960 square kilometres in size.
“The next 48 hours is pretty critical,” Chief Conroy Sewepagaham said in a video update on Facebook.
“The dozer groups are going to be working 24-7. They’re going to do whatever they can to extend Highway 58 towards High Level, and extending the northern portion of the highway going into Garden River.”
Alberta Wildfire said the nearby blaze had reached Highway 58, the only road out of Garden River, and was 13 kilometres northwest of the community itself as of Monday afternoon.
Residents of the northern communities of Chipewyan Lake and Janvier 194 have also been ordered to leave.
More than 160 wildfires are burning across Alberta.
Environment Canada said cooler temperatures were expected to start moving into northwestern parts of the province starting Monday night, though hot conditions may persist through much of the week farther south.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 22, 2024.
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