More firefighters and air support have been sent to fight a wildfire that has been raging in northwest Alberta for several days.
A fire broke out near Zama City, a village about 700 kilometers northwest of Edmonton, on June 1 due to lightning, according to Victoria Ostendorf, a forest fire information officer in the high-altitude Alberta Wildfire.
By Saturday, Alberta Wildfire classified the fire as out of control and it had grown to 1,800 hectares. A team of 46 firefighters and five helicopters have been sent to the area.
By 11:30 a.m. Sunday, the forest fire had risen to 3,000 acres and now has 60 firefighters and six helicopters trying to put out the blaze, Alberta Wildfire said in an update.
Firefighters, with the help of air support, were able to begin establishing control lines on the south and east sides of the fire, the update said.
46 firefighters and five helicopters were sent to the area on Saturday. As of Sunday, there were 60 firefighters and six helicopters, according to Alberta Wildfire. (Submitted by Victoria Ostendorf / Alberta Wildfire)
The forest fire, which burns about 20 kilometers northwest of Zama City, Alta, does not pose a threat to the community, it added.
There are no emergency alerts on Sunday morning, according to the Alberta Emergency Warning Index.
There are five other forest fires burning in the high-altitude Alberta Wildfire, of which Zama City, Altania, is part. Two have been detained, the other three are under control.
Firefighters and air support have been able to establish control lines for the fire since Sunday morning, but it is still believed to be out of control. (Submitted by Victoria Ostendorf / Alberta Wildfire)
The high-level forest area is currently under fire warning due to high temperatures and low rainfall in the forecast.
According to the recommendation, the existing fire permits are still valid, but can be suspended or revoked if the weather conditions continue. The new permits are reviewed and approved on a case-by-case basis, says Alberta Wildfire.
Any incineration – with the exception of campfires – without a valid permit is prohibited as recommended.
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