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Locals head north to fight wildfires

Westlock area firefighters, equipment and expertise headed north last week to do their part to keep communities close to expanding wildfires safe.
The view looking west from atop Westlock Terminals at about 1 p.m. May 30 as heavy smoke from the wildfires burning in the north half of the province made its way south. Air quality advisories were put in place across most of the province that day and remain in place for many areas north of Westlock — the local advisory was lifted May 31.

Westlock area firefighters, equipment and expertise headed north last week to do their part to keep communities close to expanding wildfires safe.

The Westlock Fire Department, along with Westlock County Fire Services were called upon May 30 to each send five firefighters along with an engine, a brush truck and a tender truck to help with the wildfire burning 35 kilometres north of Slave Lake, which was on eight-hour evacuation notice throughout last week.

“It has been a busy, busy week,” said Westlock deputy fire chief Dan Lucyk.

About 11,000 people, mostly in northwest Alberta, near High Level, have been evacuated from their homes, while 12,000 others are on evacuation notice and could be asked to leave their homes at any moment.

The town was put on notice that evacuees from Wabasca-Desmarais, which was evacuated May 29, may be coming through or settling in Westlock for a time, but besides a few campers, Lucyk said there have been very few and there has been no need to open a reception centre.

“We were given a head’s up that we may potentially be receiving evacuees from Wabasca, when they did the evacuation Wednesday night. We did not open the reception centre at this point in time as most of the evacuees went to Athabasca and Calling Lake,” he said.

The Westlock crews met up with Slave Lake firefighters upon their arrival and were working together closely to provide structure protection at Marten Beach, just north of the Town of Slave Lake, on the far eastern shore of Lesser Slave Lake.

Lucyk said the firefighters are prepared for a four to seven day stint, at which point new members may make their way north to replace them, depending on how the situation progresses.

These volunteer firefighters had to arrange to take time off from their jobs to make the trip.

“We’re planning and preparing for it, if it’s required, we will do that,” said Lucyk.

 Firefighters and equipment from town and county fire services were called in to assist Slave Lake firefighters May 30. L-R: William Smith, Trevor Ehrenholz, Jared Stitsen, Joe Down, Brian Hegedus, Jesse Plamondon, Shane Goossen, Matthew Punko, Roberta Halliday and Todd Terrault will provide assistance in manpower and equipment in the form of an engine, tender and a brush truck. Firefighters and equipment from town and county fire services were called in to assist Slave Lake firefighters May 30. L-R: William Smith, Trevor Ehrenholz, Jared Stitsen, Joe Down, Brian Hegedus, Jesse Plamondon, Shane Goossen, Matthew Punko, Roberta Halliday and Todd Terrault will provide assistance in manpower and equipment in the form of an engine, tender and a brush truck.

Beware of smoke

With several large wildfires burning across the province, poor air quality is a given, as was on display May 30 when the smoke cloud arrived in the Westlock area. While conditions have improved on that front since, the smoky haze and the smell of burned forest lingers.

By noon that day, a special air quality statement was released by Environment Canada, covering almost the entire province, including Westlock. The alert was lifted the next day and there were no further notices for the Westlock area as of Sunday, June 2, though they remain in place for areas north of the county line.

Alberta Health Services advises anyone with breathing difficulties to stay in indoors in a cool and ventilated area.

Do not open the windows and consider going to a public place like a library, mall or recreation centre that is air conditioned.

Individuals may experience symptoms such as increased coughing, throat irritation, headaches or shortness of breath. Children, seniors and those with cardiovascular or lung disease, such as asthma, are especially at risk.

People with lung diseases, such as asthma and COPD, can be particularly sensitive to air pollution. They will generally experience more serious health effects at lower levels. Pollution can aggravate their diseases, leading to increased medication use, doctor and emergency room visits, and hospital visits.

The latest

As of June 2, much of northern and eastern Alberta, surrounding Westlock, remain under air quality alerts, but the town and county do not. Projections also show that Westlock should be spared the brunt of the smoke when it circles around again later this week.

The nearest wildfire to Westlock, the McMillan Wildfire Complex, southwest of Bigstone Cree Nation is about 250 kilometres away and has burned 212,386 hectares, resulting in the mandatory evacuation of the Bigstone Cree Nation, the Hamlet of Wabasca-Desmarais, the Hamlet of Sandy Lake, the Hamlet of Marten Beach and parts of the MD of Opportunity.

It is also a threat to the Town of Slave Lake, but remains several dozen kilometres away from the town. Residents there, as well as evacuees who have come from the High Level area are on eight-hour evacuation notice.

The largest fire in the province remains the Chuckegg Creek wildfire, southwest of High Level, at about 280,000 hectares. In addition to the 11,000 people that have already been evacuated from the area, 12,000 more have been notified they may be called upon to leave their homes on short notice and to be prepared to do so.

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