Emergency siren testing on the way
The City of Fort Saskatchewan will be testing the emergency siren system on Monday (May 8) at 11 a.m.
Fort Saskatchewan has three emergency sirens across the city, which are used to alert residents of emergencies such as:
Emergency travel advisory announced
The Alberta Emergency Management Agency has issued a special travel alert.
The alert states drivers must avoid all non-essential travel in all fire affected areas.
No services will be available along these routes for the time that the alert is in effect.
This alert is in place for all provincial roadways in Alberta.
Evacuation over in Strathcona County
An evacuation order for Strathcona County has been lifted.
The order was placed after out-of-control wildfires threatened homes in rural Strathcona County.
While it is safe to return home, the county is asking residents to remain alert. Fire crews are still in the area.
There were no injuries from either fire in the county and no homes were lost. However, damages were reported at one business east of Highway 21.
Update: Fire burning off Highway 15
A fire was burning between Bruderheim and Fort Saskatchewan.
Reports say the fire was just off Highway 15 at the Heartland Sulphur terminal on Saturday afternoon (May 6).
Fire crews were on scene — no word on the cause of the blaze.
More details to follow as they become available.
County gives update on wildfire injuries, property damage
Strathcona County has given an update on two wildfires in the region.
Both fires are now under control.
“At this time, the county can confirm there is no loss of life or injuries from either of the fires,” the county said in a release.
No homes have been affected.
Some damages have been reported at Sureflow Weeping Tile, east of Highway 21 — one outbuilding and five vehicles and trailers at the back of the property.
Both fires remain under investigation.
Both Strathcona County fires under control
Strathcona County has cancelled both wildfire evacuation alerts.
Early Saturday morning (May 6), the alert was cancelled for everyone in the area west of Highway 21 and east of Range Road 232, also south of Township Road 522 and north of Highway 14. This includes Silver Birch Estates and Colchester Lane.
Saturday afternoon an evacuation order was lifted for the area between south of Township Road 540 and north of Township Road 534; east of Range Road 221 and west of Range Road 215. This includes Pleasant View Estates and Newton Estates.
Map of Strathcona County evacuation areas
Two wildfires were forcing evacuations in Strathcona County.
According to the county, both of the evacuations have been lifted.
The affected areas were:
Update: Some Strathcona County residents evacuated due to wildfire
We now know the cause of a couple of wildfires that started last week.
When the fires threatened homes in the area on Friday (May 5), an evacuation order was placed for two areas of Strathcona County.
The next day, residents were told that they could return to their homes as both fires were put under control.
The county says the cause of both fires was unintentional human activity.
Burning vehicle spreads to grass outside Fort Saskatchewan
A fire has broken out just outside of Fort Saskatchewan.
According to the Fort Saskatchewan Fire Department, they received reports of a vehicle on fire by Range Road 222 along the road to Josephburg.
By the time fire crews arrived, the fire had spread to the nearby grass. Firefighters are currently at work to put out the blaze.
Strathcona County firefighters are also on the scene.
More to come...
Fort Saskatchewan spray park opens early for the summer
Due to warmer-than-usual temperatures, the Kin Family Spray Park opened early this year.
The spray park, which runs daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., is located at the intersection of 95A Avenue and Westpark Drive
The park features animal-themed spray equipment with free admission. There are also washrooms and picnic tables on-site.
"We do realize that when the weather gets warm the Public gets very excited to use this well-attracted amenity that the city has," said Chris Enders, manager of fleet & facilities services.