A forecasted shift in winds could worsen an enormous wildfire burning near a small northern Alberta town.
The concern comes after a 鈥渓ucky鈥� week of firefighting pushed the away from the town of High Level.
鈥淲e have been pretty lucky this past week,鈥� said Alberta Wildfire information unit lead Christie Tucker on 麻豆传媒 Channel Sunday. But the fluctuating winds, combined with high temperatures and humidity, could make the flames more difficult to fight. The fire spans an area of more than 1,000 square kilometres.
鈥淲e鈥檙e looking at very challenging firefighting conditions,鈥� said Tucker. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got extremely low humidity. We鈥檝e got high temperatures and we鈥檙e looking at gusting winds that could change speed and direction.鈥�
Some 5,000 people were evacuated from the area, and won鈥檛 likely return home before later this week.
The weather conditions could also affect other wildfires in Alberta, where there are currently four designated 鈥�.鈥�
鈥淲ind is very, very important when fighting any kind of wildfire. It really changes how far the fire can travel and which direction it goes,鈥� said Tucker, adding that crews prepared all week for changing conditions.
鈥淲e have put in a few measures that we think will slow down or stop the fire if it starts to move towards the town,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e also called in reinforcements.鈥�
The crews have used the time to conduct controlled burns and create barriers in an attempt to help shield the town and protect vital communications towers.
The Alberta crews are supported by at least 28 helicopters as well as various types of heavy equipment, and have amassed a team of more than 400 firefighters from coast to coast, including workers from British Columbia, Ontario and Prince Edward Island. The support is much needed for local crews, who have been working long hours to fight the fires, and may have friends and family affected.
鈥淭hey are probably worried about their own homes,鈥� said Tucker. 鈥淥ne of the benefits of having crews come from elsewhere to help, is that these firefighters who have been working so hard will get a bit of a break. We don鈥檛 want to burn people out.鈥�
