High Level Forest Area - June 03, 2025 - 8:30 pm

Wildfire situation

Sousa Creek Wildfire (HWF036) 

The Sousa Creek Wildfire is between the towns of Rainbow Lake and High Level, near the Chateh turnoff, and along both sides of Highway 58. This wildfire, which is out of control and estimated to cover 33,000 hectares (ha), remains the highest priority fire within the forest area.

It is located (approximately):

• 6.3 km from the southern edge of the community (reserve area) of Chateh
• 56 km from the southeast edge of the community (reserve area) of Meander River
• 71.5 km from the western edge of the Town of High Level
• 29.5 km from the eastern edge of the Town of Rainbow Lake

Additional firefighting resources

Additional resources have arrived in the forest area to support suppression efforts on the Sousa Creek Wildfire (HWF036), including:

• a 20-person fire crew, which arrived from Oregon today and is now supporting HWF036
• a 20-person fire crew from Washington (state), which arrived Monday
• an S61 heavy helicopter, which can carry at least twice the amount of water for bucketing, arrived Monday and is now operating from Rainbow Lake to support HWF036
• additional heavy equipment that has arrived over the past 48 hours
• an incident management team that is being established (west of HWF036) to oversee planning, operations and logistical support for ground crews, aircraft and heavy equipment
• a night-vision-capable helicopter, which is set to arrive to provide overnight bucketing support tomorrow evening. This helicopter will be deployed when available going forward.

A 20-person crew, which arrived from Oregon today, prepares to deploy to HWF036 to support fire suppression efforts after being briefed at the High Level Fire Centre (June 3).

Heavy equipment operators continue to build containment line east of the Chateh turnoff, along the northeastern fire perimeter, near Sousa Creek. Firefighters with helicopter support continue to work along established containment lines on the northern and northwest sides. Air tanker support is available, when required and when conditions are suitable. 

There appears to have been some minor growth on some perimeters over the past 24 hours. The eastern side of the fire has reached the western boundary of the 2023 Bassett fire, where a containment line was established. There has been little growth within this 2023 fire perimeter, beyond the containment line. 

Structure protection has been deployed within the community of Chateh, and power to the Town of Rainbow Lake and Chateh is not currently impacted. ATCO crews continue to work on repairing damaged powerline infrastructure within the fire. Telus has completed repair work on communication infrastructure, which had been damaged, to reestablish communications for the Town of Rainbow Lake. 

Travellers on Highway 58 should expect delays or intermittent closures (please check 511 for updates). The cause of this wildfire remains under investigation.

An Oregon fire crew receives an operational and safety briefing prior to deployment to HWF036 today (June 3).

HWF037 

This wildfire is within the Buffalo Head Hills, about 33 km west of the community of Tall Cree First Nation South. It is out of control at about 940 ha.

Heavy equipment continues its work building a containment line with a current focus on the south side. This will be followed by work on the eastern side – along a corridor between two previously burned areas that is stalling growth to the east-southeast. Bucketing helicopters provided air support today and fire crews are now expected to be on the ground tomorrow to support overall efforts to suppress this wildfire. There is currently no threat to communities, and its cause is under investigation.

HWF040

This wildfire, which is east of the La Crete Ferry and just south of Highway 697, is now being held at about 395 ha. With the progress made on this wildfire, crews have been able to remove the structure protection previously put in place and evacuated residents have returned home.

Travellers on Highway 697 should expect delays (please check 511 for updates). The cause of this wildfire remains under investigation.

Smoke from wildfire on the Alberta-B.C. border 

Residents and others on the western side of the forest area may see smoke from a wildfire (HBZ001) currently burning along the provincial border. The High Level Fire Centre is in regular contact with its B.C. counterpart to monitor this wildfire. The Government of Canada also monitors smoke conditions across the country.

In 2025, there have been 45 wildfires in the High Level Forest Area to date, burning more than 34,000 ha.

To view wildfires on a map and for live updates, download the Alberta Wildfire App or visit the Alberta Wildfire Dashboard. Learn more about wildfire status definitions used in Alberta.

Lightning-caused wildfires

Lightning-caused wildfires are a common natural occurrence in Alberta, accounting for approximately 37% of the wildfires that occur each year, on average. These wildfires often start in remote areas when lightning strikes dry vegetation, such as grass and trees, which can facilitate a quick start. Since these starts are often located far from roads or communities, they can easily go unnoticed. 

Alberta Wildfire closely monitors lightning activity using resources such as aerial surveillance and fire lookout observers to detect and respond to these wildfires as quickly as possible. Many fire detections are also reported by the public.

As an example, several of the very recent wildfires starts detected in the Slave Lake Forest Area have been determined to have been caused by lightning.

All forest areas have firefighters and equipment ready to respond. Please call 310-FIRE if you see smoke or flames and suspect it's a wildfire. Learn more about how to report a wildfire.