Fire

Alberta is adding Wildland firefighters to the list of responders eligible for the Alberta Heros’ Fund. Since 2020, the Alberta Heros’ Fund has provided $100,000 to the families of first responders whose lives are lost in the line of duty. With this change, Heroes’ Fund payments now extend to workers who fight, suppress, or extinguish […]

The wildfire burning near Saprae Creek is now considered under control. The blaze began on April 21st prompting an evacuation alert to be issued for Saprae Creek Estates. Shortly after 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 25th, the province updated the fire status to, “under control.” According to Alberta Wildfire, “under control” means the wildfire is […]

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) is revising its Outdoor Fire Bylaw. The Municipal Council approved revisions to the rules governing outdoor fires at their meeting on April 22nd. The new bylaw contains major revisions regulating all outdoor fires and burning in the urban service area of Fort McMurray. “More than 60 per cent […]

Update, 8:00 p.m. April 21: Wood Buffalo RCMP are advising the public not to operate drones in the vicinity of the wildfire. Police say drones have been seen flying in the area of the wildfire, grounding helicopters attempting to fight the blaze. The RCMP say this is a significant risk to public safety, as helicopters […]

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RWMB) is announcing a new agreement with Alberta Health Services (AHS) to provide ambulance and EMS services in our region. The five-year contract ensures four fully staffed ambulances are available in the region 24/7. The deal also sees the continuation of the RMWB’s dual model, where staff are trained […]

Regional Emergency Services (RES) and Regional Fire Chief Jody Butz are reminding everyone to check their carbon monoxide alarms and test them monthly. Shortly after noon on Saturday, February 10, Firefighter-Paramedics responded to a medical call at an apartment complex in Timberlea. During the call, the portable carbon monoxide detectors worn by the first responders […]

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) is advising everyone to look out for thin ice. With Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo experiencing unseasonably warm weather and little snow, Regional Emergency Services (RES) is calling on residents to be extra cautious this winter. Fire Chief Jody Butz says when rivers freeze, ice may look thick enough […]

The Wood Buffalo RCMP is investigating a fire at a church in Janvier. On Friday, December 15th, at around 10:30 p.m., police responded to a call about a building on fire in the community situated 120 kilometres south of Fort McMurray near the Chipewyan Prairie First Nation. When the RCMP arrived, they found the Janvier […]

Wood Buffalo RCMP is investigating a suspicious death, as well as a vehicle fire, that they believe may be connected. RCMP responded to a call of a suspicious death at 10:10 a.m. on Dec. 12, 2023. This incident sent police to Parsons Access Road, near the Highway 63 turn-off, and forced the closure of the […]

The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is tallying the costs of the summer fires in Yellowknife and Hay River. Based on IBC’s initial estimates, the wildfires resulted in over $60 million of insurable losses. The forest fires in the Northwest Territories led to the evacuation of nearly 25 thousand people over the summer, and the […]