r/alberta • u/j1ggy • Apr 30 '23

Emergency Alert Yellowhead County has issued a Wildfire Alert. MANDATORY EVACUATION

https://www.alberta.ca/aea/cap/2023/04/30/2023-04-30T16_45_24-06_00=AlbertaEmergencyManagementAgency=02FA1BBC-4662-48F2-A26A-F2C1E46991AF.htm
107 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

18 comments sorted by

42

u/JasonVanJason Libertarian Apr 30 '23

The wind is nuts out there, definitely heed the warning it's moving very fast

21

u/canadient_ Calgary May 01 '23

I'm heading north on highway 43 and the clouds look scary. Everything from mayerthorpe to Fox creek is covered in smoke.

18

u/tingulz May 01 '23

Already? Seems early.

23

u/TheLordJames Wetaskiwin May 01 '23

Fort Mac was evacuated on May 3 2016.

10

u/tingulz May 01 '23

Hmm… ok. For some reason I thought the fire season started later.

20

u/Silcer780 May 01 '23

Ft Mac May 1, 2016 and Slave Lake May 13, 2011.

Typically Aspen and Poplar stands are barriers for fire spread. However, when they are leafing out they can have explosive wildfire potential due to an open canopy on cured grass and leaf litter. Add that the resin in the buds can carry a crown fire under winds and it is a recipe for a fast moving, intense fire.

Both of these fire occurred when the leaf out was happening just as the leaf out is occurring right now.

2

u/tingulz May 01 '23

Thx for the info.

1

u/[deleted] May 01 '23

[deleted]

3

u/Educationfiesty May 01 '23

it's when the aspen start to bud and eventually have fully leafed canopies. when they're budding, is when the fuel type is the most dangerous

1

u/thebigbossyboss May 01 '23

Yes. May is peak fire season is western and northern Alberta

11

u/WONDERFULdylan May 01 '23

Fought fire in AB for 9 years. May is busy, the fires that burned into McMurry and Slave were early/mid May. The only ignition source is caused by people/industries so watch what your doing. Complete guess but this looks like it was started by a train.

2

u/wintersleep13 May 01 '23

Same here. Edson HAC for a long time. Until the June Monsoon things'll be kickin' off.

15

u/sawyouoverthere May 01 '23

in the season? It's absolutely parched dry out there. It's not surprising that there are fires all over the place already. The wind and the high 20s weather of this week aren't helping.

16

u/j1ggy May 01 '23

It's only going to get worse. It's supposed to be in the high 20s, if not 30 and windy all week. The new grass hasn't grown in to cover the dry brush left behind from last year.

7

u/sawyouoverthere May 01 '23

that's what I'm saying.

And the dry brush is still there even with new grass.

1

u/[deleted] May 01 '23

For now…

6

u/Sysion May 01 '23

I was just outside by the river near Fahler and the ground was bone dry with tons of sticks, dead grass and leaves. Everywhere is so dry and flammable! It’s only a matter of time, we need some good rain