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Slave Lake Braces for Potential Evacuation as Wildfire Rages Nearby
22 Jul
Summary
- Wildfire sparked by lightning on Sunday, grew to 40 hectares in 2 hours
- Slave Lake was devastated by a major wildfire in 2011, with $700 million in damages
- Residents are on alert, with some feeling desensitized to frequent emergency warnings
A wildfire that sparked on Sunday in the Municipal District of Lesser Slave River has put the town of Slave Lake, Alberta, on high alert for potential evacuation. The fire, ignited by lightning from a thunderstorm, grew to 40 hectares within two hours, raising concerns of a repeat of the devastating 2011 Slave Lake wildfire.
In 2011, a fierce wildfire tore through the town, destroying nearly 400 homes and businesses and causing $700 million in damages, making it one of the costliest disasters in Canadian history. Now, with the current fire burning just 20 kilometers northeast of Slave Lake, residents are on standby to flee at a moment's notice.
While cooler temperatures and rain on Monday have helped reduce the fire's activity, the respite is expected to be temporary, as hot and dry conditions are forecast to return later this week. Firefighters are working around the clock, with crews from across Alberta pitching in to help contain the blaze.
Some Slave Lake residents, however, have become desensitized to the frequent emergency alerts, feeling a lack of urgency due to the number of warnings they've received in recent years. Nevertheless, the town is determined to learn from the lessons of 2011, providing residents with as much advance notice as possible to ensure a safe and orderly evacuation if needed.
