This May 22 wildfire update said this fire “showed aggressive wildfire behaviour,” forcing ground crews out for safety reasons.
A wildfire remains out of control north of Calling Lake, according to an update from Lac La Biche Forest Area information officer Leslie Lozinski.
Lozinski said the fire has grown to 3,200 hectares in the May 23 update, compared to the 1,000 hectares as of May 22. Air tankers worked on the fire all day May 23, but ground crews could not as it was too dangerous, Lozinski said.
Lozinski said May 23 the winds are blowing the fire away from the direction of Calling Lake.
"The fire is north of Calling Lake and the winds are pushing it away," Lozinski said in an interview. "It's not a risk to Calling Lake at this time."
There are currently 12 active wildfires in the Lac La Biche Forest Area. Lozinski said the Lac La Biche Forest Area has pulled in resources from outside areas, including Fort McMurray, Slave Lake, Rocky Mountain House and Calgary.
"We have adequate resources at this time and we have access to other resources form other forest areas that don’t have as high a hazard as we do," Lozinski said in an interview.
The Lac La Biche Forest Area declared a fire ban May 23.
Athabasca County has upgraded the existing fire restriction to a fire ban for the area of the County outside of the Forest Protection Area effective May 23, according to the province's wildfire status map.
The fire ban prohibits all open fires including recreational fire pits, burn barrels, fireworks and exploding targets and charcoal barbecues. All existing fire permits are suspended and any fires presently burning must be extinguished. No new permits will be issued.
The wildfire map notes that gas or propane fired appliances for cooking and warming purposes are permitted, and the ban will remain in effect until conditions improve.
The Town of Athabasca is also under a fire ban, which was issued May 24.
