Slave Lake Forest Area - June 09, 2025

Wildfire situation

Firefighters, supported by helicopters, airtankers and heavy equipment continue to fight the multiple wildfires in the Slave Lake Forest Area. 

Since January 1, 2025, there have been 117 wildfires reported in the Slave Lake Forest Area, resulting in a total burned area of 359,545.59 hectares.

To see wildfires on a map, download the AB Wildfire Status app or visit the Alberta Wildfire Status Dashboard.

Evacuation

An evacuation order remains in effect for the communities of Chipewyan Lake, Red Earth Creek, Loon River First Nation, Trout Lake and Peerless Lake. A 4-hour evacuation alert is in effect for the community of Swan Hills and a 2-hour evacuation alert is in effect for Marten Beach. Residents are advised to monitor Alberta Emergency Alert for detailed information and updates. 

Smoky conditions

Due to the ongoing wildfire activity, smoky conditions are expected to persist across the area. Visit FireSmoke Canada to see where the smoke is coming from. Anyone with health concerns should visit Alberta Health Services or call 811 for health advice from Alberta Health Link.

Highway closures

When traveling in areas where wildfires are close to highways, please slow down and follow all posted signs. For your safety and the safety of our firefighters, road closures or reduced speed limits may be in place. For the most up-to-date information on road conditions, visit 511 Alberta.

Red Earth East Complex (SWF085, SWF089,SWF091, SWF092,SWF095, SWF099,SWF100, SWF101, SWF110, SWF115)

The Red Earth East Complex includes 10 wildfires located east of Highway 88. An Incident Management Team is established and is organizing all firefighting operations on these wildfires.

Wildfire SWF085 which impacted the community of Chipewyan Lake, is classified as burning out of control and is 133,658.9 hectares. Firefighters with a helicopter are monitoring the wildfire and extinguishing visible hotspots closest to the community of Chipewyan Lake. Smoke may be visible in the Wabasca area due to hotspots along the southern perimeter of swf085.

Wildfire SWF092 is located approximately 7 km southeast of Red Earth Creek and about 8.9 km west of Trout Lake. The wildfire is classified as burning out of control and is 68,565 hectares. 

Ignition operations were successfully completed to tie the guard into Bat Lake, strengthening the containment line on the southern edge of the wildfire. These planned ignitions, supported by helicopters bucketing along the perimeter, were critical in limiting the wildfire’s potential to spread south. This work will help reduce the intensity of the wildfire in that area and improve overall containment efforts moving forward.

Water skimming airtankers were also active on the south side of the wildfire, while heavy helicopters conducted bucketing operations on the east side. Aircraft targeted areas where fire activity remained challenging throughout the day. 

Helicopters are bucketing on hotspots, and firefighters and heavy equipment have been deployed on SWF092.

Wildfire SWF101 has merged with SWF100. Firefighters and heavy equipment are now repositioning to the northeast and east sides of SWF100 north of Peerless Lake. Efforts remain focused on preventing the wildfire from advancing eastward to protect the community of Peerless Lake.

Wildfire SWF100 is located approximately 7 km west of Peerless Lake. The wildfire is classified as burning out of control and is now 12,661 hectares. Firefighters, heavy equipment, and helicopters with buckets were working on SWF100 until the afternoon, when firefighting resources were pulled back due to smoke from SWF092 that was shading the wildfire and limiting visibility. Overnight, heavy equipment and firefighters strengthened containment lines along the north end of the wildfire.

Firefighters and heavy equipment working through the night on SWF100.

Sprinkler systems have been installed on buildings in the Trout Lake and Peerless Lake communities and a high-volume water system is in place. Portable mobile fire-retardant bases have been established to allow heavy equipment to continue to spread fire retardant in the communities.

For information about the wildfires in the Red Earth East Wildfire Complex, contact Dan Troke at 780-843-5772 or [email protected]

Wildfire along Highway 88 -Blue Sky Fire (SWF088)

Wildfire SWF088 remains approximately 24 km north of Marten Beach. The wildfire is currently classified as out of control and is 10,521 hectares in size. Late yesterday afternoon, the wildfire did experience some growth in areas on the north and east sides. Helicopters with buckets and airtankers worked on these active areas. Heavy equipment will be building containment lines around these new active areas.  Firefighters continue to work on extinguishing hotspots on the south and north sides of the wildfire. 

With west winds yesterday, smoke from SWF088 drifted over Highway 88.

Highway 88 is open; however smoke in the area may reduce visibility. Visit 511 Alberta for the most up to date information on road conditions.

The Slave Lake Fire Centre is coordinating firefighting efforts for new wildfire starts and the Blue Sky Fire. For information on the these wildfires, contact Leah Lovequist at 780-849-0945 or [email protected]

Contact info

Leah Lovequist
780-849-0945
[email protected]