Features
Business Operations
Commercial
Aerial assets continue assault on Alberta fires
May 16, 2012 By The Canadian Press
May 16, 2012, Edmonton - Crews are working all-out to try to keep an
unpredictable wildfire from spreading in east-central Alberta.
Residents from 12 homes have left the area around Forsythe Lake, which is under a voluntary evacuation order.
Geoffrey Driscoll of Alberta Environment says one house is threatened
and firefighters are doing whatever they can — including the use of
sprinklers — to keep it safe.
Diane Jenkinson with the Municipal District of Bonnyville says a
reception centre was set up Tuesday night for evacuees, but it didn't
see much use.
She says most people stayed with friends or relatives.
The fire is one of three burning in the province: there's an
out-of-control blaze in the Grasslands area north of Edmonton and
another fire that is being held near Lodgepole southwest of the city.
Driscoll says more than 300 firefighters are working in the province
right now to beat back the flames. One-third are concentrating on the
Forsythe Lake fire alone.
"We have over 100 firefighters as well as heavy equipment like
bulldozers and air tankers and helicopters on the fire, so they're going
to work … all throughout the day to try to fight it as fast as they
can.''
Jenkinson said Wednesday a decision would be made later in the day as to whether the evacuees could go home.
