The County of Grande Prairie is describing the fire crews operating on the Teepee Creek wildfire as having made “good progress” after completing 80 per cent of the fire guard around the perimeter of the blaze.
Additional crews and equipment from Alberta Wildfire, the MD of Greenview, the City of Grande Prairie, the MD of Smoky River, Big Lakes County, the Town of Slave Lake, arrived to support operations both in the air and on the ground.
Currently, twenty pieces of heavy equipment, four helicopters, and approximately 80 firefighters are on scene to continue the fight today. Additionally, eight fire engines, three fire tenders, seven commercial water trucks, two structural protection units and two command vehicles from municipalities and mutual aid resources are working on the fire.
Officials say limited growth came yesterday in the north and west of the fire due to good conditions and containment has been a success so far. High winds are forecasted throughout the rest of the day; however, air tankers and helicopters have been deployed to take advantage of increased visibility.
While fire suppression is being provided to homes near the fire, no structures have been reported to be lost as of 2:00 p.m. on May 12th.
The evacuation order remains in effect for the areas of Kleskun Creek North to Township Road 742 and the Riverstone Golf Course and is being “actively enforced” by the RCMP.
The areas of Township Road 744 to 750 and Range Road 32, and Township Road 744 to 730 and Range Road 32 remain on evacuation alert, but no order has been implemented thus far.
In Valhalla, the blaze burning near the town was listed as “being held” yesterday at 100 hectares in size when it was last measured. County crews are scheduled to scale back operations, leaving Alberta Wildfire to continue mopping-up.
