BIGHORN – MD of Bighorn signed a local state of emergency at 2:50 a.m. Tuesday (Oct. 6) as the Devil’s Head wildfire status changed to being out of control.
“In the evening hours, the Devil’s Head wildfire was reignited by the Chinook winds and the fire has breached the containment area and is moving south towards the Ghost River and East,” MD of Bighorn Reeve Dene Cooper said.
“We haven’t had to evacuate Bighorn residents yet, [but] we declared a state of local emergency because the fire is significant enough. We are preparing for the worst.”
Wildfire Alert Oct06 552AM Take necessary precautions. Bighorn #8 https://t.co/L8ht6OkSYi #ABfire #ABemerg
— AB Emergencyalert (@AB_EmergAlert) October 6, 2020
Bighorn residents in the surrounding area, including Richards Road, Pears Road, Highway 40, Summer Village of Waiparous, Hamlet of Benchlands, Ghost Country Place and West Jamieson residents are asked to prepare to evacuate on short notice.
Officials said some campers in the area have already been evacuated.
The reignition stems from the Labour Day long weekend Devil’s Head wildfire in the Black Rock Mountain area in Don Getty Wildland Provincial Park. The area is within the MD of Bighorn and along the eastern edge of Banff National Park near Lake Minnewanka.
To battle the initial blaze, there were four helicopters, an air tanker and 26 firefighters sent out. The blaze burnt close to 700 acres of land.
Last week, Alberta Forestry also sent out 14 firefighters and five helicopters as the status changed from “under control” to “being held.”
Under control is when a wildfire is receiving enough suppression to ensure there is no further spread of the fire. Being held indicates with current resources that there should be sufficient suppression and the wildfire is not likely to spread beyond the existing boundaries. Out of control is when the wildfire is not responding to the suppression and the flames are breaching the boundaries.
Investigators determined the fire to be started by an abandoned campfire. Investigators are working with RCMP to identify anyone who may have been in the area between Aug. 30 and Sept. 4.
Alberta Emergency Alert listed the alert at 5:52 a.m., stating there were no structures at risk at the time and ground crews were on route.
"People in the area should stay aware of the evolving situation," AB Emergency Alert said.
Emergency Command Centre (ECC) coordinator Kendra Tippe said residents should keep an eye on the Alberta Emergency Alert website or on the MD of Bighorn website for updated.
“We are working on confirming the [meeting] location for when and if an evacuation alert is called … residents should be preparing to evacuate on short notice,” Tippe said.
To stay up to date, visit emergencyalert.alberta.ca
