Current heat wave is raising wildfire danger to extreme levels in parts of Alberta

After a relatively temperate start to the summer in Alberta, the current heat wave the province is experiencing is now creating ideal conditions for wildfires to start and spread in parts of the province.

The vast majority of Alberta is currently under a heat warning from Environment Canada, which said that most areas can expect daytime high temperatures near 30 C.

Heat warnings are issued when very high temperature conditions are expected to pose an elevated risk of heat illnesses, such as heat stroke or heat exhaustion.

Figures from Environment Canada showed daily temperature records were broken in five regions in northern Alberta on Thursday, including the areas around Fort Chipewyan, High Level, Mildred Lake, Red Earth Creek and Slave Lake.

The Alberta Wildfire forecast indicates that most of northern Alberta could experience temperatures as high as 33 C on Friday. The extreme heat is increasing the risk of wildfires to dangerous levels in a significant portion of the province.

Currently, the bulk of northern and eastern Alberta is classified as extreme or high risk for fire danger, according to data from Natural Resources Canada.

Alberta Wildfire statistics show that 56 wildfires are burning across the province, with 13 considered out of control.

In the forested area around Lac La Biche, Alta., located about 220 kilometres northeast of Edmonton, Alberta Wildfire has upgraded the wildfire danger to extreme on Thursday.

In a wildfire update, Alberta Wildfire said continued high temperatures, dry conditions, increased winds, and recent lightning have created ideal conditions for wildfires to start and spread easily in the Lac La Biche forest area.

There are currently 20 active wildfires burning in the forest area, with six new wildfires reported just on Thursday, according to Alberta Wildfire. Five of the region's wildfires are considered out of control.

Another grouping of eight major out-of-control wildfires is also burning around the community of Chipewyan Lake, which is about 450 kilometres north of Edmonton. The community is currently under an evacuation order, according to Alberta Wildfire.

Alberta Wildfire said firefighters are monitoring the wildfires near Chipewyan Lake and extinguishing hotspots, but fire activity in the area is expected to increase in the coming days due to very hot temperatures.

Due to these hot and dry conditions, most of eastern and northeast Alberta is currently under some level of fire ban, restriction, or notice.

Currently, a full fire ban has been declared for Athabasca County and Lac La Biche County.

Environment Canada said the heat warning over most of the province will end later this weekend as daytime high temperatures are expected to drop to mid-20 C range.