FortSask

Canada's electronic waste more than tripled in the last two decades and is expected to keep increasing, a new study indicates, with researchers urging better e-waste management to reduce environmental harm and bring economic rewards.

Researchers from the University of Waterloo conducted what they called a comprehensive estimate of e-waste in Canada to better understand the lifecycle of electronic items from point of sale to disposal.

The study, published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, looked at e-waste data going as far back as 1971.

Cooler temperatures and a bit of rain were delivering some relief for firefighters as they continued to battle wildfires that threaten communities in northern Alberta, but provincial officials warned the reprieve was only in some areas and lightning is sparking some new blazes.

"People have called this season certainly unprecedented in recent memory because we have so many fires so spread out," Christie Tucker with Alberta Wildfire told a media briefing Sunday afternoon.

"It's been an unusual year."

Emergency Preparedness Week is May 8 to 14.

MIX 107 and Northeast Region Community Awareness Emergency Response (NRCAER) are teaming up to give you a chance to win one of five emergency preparedness kits!

Be listening to the MIX Morning Grind with JP at 7:40 each day for a chance to take one home. 

The theme this year is ‘Build Preparedness Habits.’

NRCAER encourages you to know the risks and update your household emergency plan.

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.  

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.

Two wildfires were forcing evacuations in Strathcona County. 

According to the county, both of the evacuations have been lifted.

The affected areas were: