Dunes West Wildfire Update #6: 10:20 p.m. - Ground Crews Aided by Air Support to Battle Wildfire

Firefighters from the County of Grande Prairie, City of Grande Prairie, and Alberta Forestry continue to battle the fire. 

Current Status of the Fire 
The size of the fire has reached approximately 1,700 hectares. Ground crew response is being aided by aircraft. Fire guards have been created around multiple subdivisions and crews will continue working on creating additional fire guards throughout the night.  

The weather forecast for the coming days shows ongoing windy conditions with no significant precipitation in the forecast. 

Residents are reminded to pay close attention to Alberta Emergency Alerts. Any evacuation ALERTS or ORDERS will be issued via www.alberta.ca/emergencyalert.  

No Change to Current Evacuation ALERT Area 
An evacuation ALERT is a warning for people to prepare for possible evacuation on short notice. 

Earlier today, the evacuation ALERT area was expanded north to include everyone from Township Road 712 south to the Wapiti River. The alert included all residents between Range Road 75 to Range Road 80 from Township Road 712 south to the Wapiti River, including the Pipestone Creek area. 

Everyone in the evacuation ALERT area must prepare for a possible evacuation. Gather important documents, medications, food, water and important supplies, to be away from your home for three days. Prepare pets and livestock. The Government of Alberta provides tips and resources for preparing for emergencies.  

 
Current Evacuation ORDER Area Remains in Place 
An evacuation ORDER requires residents to immediately evacuate by following the designated evacuation routes identified by the authorities.  
 
The evacuation ORDER remains in place for all residents from Township Road 712 south to the Wapiti River and between Range Road 65 and Range Road 74 as well as all residents from Township Road 710 (correction line) south to the Wapiti River and between Highway 40 and Range Road 75. This includes up to the Dimsdale area.  

There is NO evacuation alert/order in effect for the City of Grande Prairie. 

Homes and Structures Update 
Crews are actively fighting the fire and the fire response remains the priority. At this time, we are unable to report on the condition of any property. 

 
Direction for Evacuees 
More than 470 evacuees have been received and registered at the reception centre. 

Anyone displaced due to wildfires may report to Bonnetts Energy Centre located at 10017 99 Avenue, Grande Prairie for support and resources. The reception centre will remain open overnight.  

If you need help evacuating, or are seeking information about the Dunes West Wildfire, contact the call centre at 1-825-606-5092. Call 911 for emergencies only. The call centre closes at 11 p.m. and will be re-open at 8 a.m. on Sunday, May 7. 

Re-entry to Evacuation Order Area Not Permitted 
General re-entry into the evacuated area is not permitted, and a secure perimeter exists around the evacuation order area. Evacuees requiring temporary access to their property can call 1-825-606-5092 to determine if their need for re-entry is legitimate and whether it is safe to do so given the current wildfire status. 

Fire and Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) Bans 
A reminder that the Fire and Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) ban remains in effect for both the County and City of Grande Prairie, along with the towns of Beaverlodge, Sexsmith and Wembley, due to hot and dry weather conditions. There is no open burning permitted and residents must comply with the fire ban. 

Next Update 
This is the last update for May 6, 2023. Should the emergency response remain in a similar situation, the next update is anticipated before noon on May 7, 2023. 

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Media Contact: 
GPREP Information Officer 
1-825-609-5100