The Alberta government has closed 12 provincial parks and recreation areas ahead of the Victoria Day long weekend to lower the risk of more wildfires starting and spreading.
In addition, outdoor recreation activity such as backcountry camping, mountain biking and hiking is not recommended in areas including Edson, Grande Prairie, High Level, Peace River, Slave Lake and Whitecourt forest areas, as well as the Rocky Mountain House forest area located north of Highway 11.
To help reduce the risk of wildfires, several provincial parks, recreation areas and campgrounds in areas where the fire danger is high are closed, including:
- Young’s Point Provincial Park
- Williamson Provincial Park
- Smoke Lake Provincial Recreation Area
- Saskatoon Island Provincial Park
- Winagami Lake Provincial Park
- Brazeau Reservoir Provincial Recreation Area
- Two Lakes Provincial Park
- Iosegun Lake Provincial Recreation Area
- Waskahigan River Provincial Recreation Area
- Blue Rapids Provincial Recreation Area
- Minnow Lake Provincial Recreation Area
- Wolf Lake West Provincial Recreation Area
Several other sites are being monitored, and the province will provide more in the coming days. The list, which will be updated, can be viewed online.
Campers with reservations in affected areas will receive a refund.
Environment Canada said an upper ridge which brought record-breaking heat to the province last weekend will again form over Alberta triggering parched conditions and unseasonably high temperatures. The forecast is calling for daily highs this weekend ranging from 25 to 30 C throughout central and northern Alberta, and along with the heat, there will be brisk winds and the risk of thunderstorms.
As of Thursday night, there are 92 wildfires burning in Alberta, with 28 considered out of control.
