Evacuation order for Lac Ste. Anne County lifted
Around 250 people from the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation and the hamlet of Glenevis can return to their homes.
A wildfire burning out of control in Lac Ste. Anne County northwest of Edmonton prompted a mandatory evacuation for the areas late Wednesday afternoon.
But at 8 p.m., officials said the "highest risk of the wildfire burning period is over" and that they have shifted from firefighting to containing the perimeter.
By 9:30 p.m. officials lifted the alert.
The evacuation order affected the western boundary of Highway 765, east to Range Road 41, and north to township road 560.
About 55 residences were evacuated.
Troy Dufort, deputy fire chief for Lac Ste Anne County, said there has been no injuries or fatalities from the fire. Only one home has been hit and the residence was saved.
Oneil Carlier, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, and the MLA for Whitecourt-Ste Anne, said Wednesday he was worried for the First Nation and acreage owners in the area.
He's also worried for his own home.
"I'm on Range Road 43 so it's pretty close, I'm on the other side of the lake though, but it's very concerning to me," he said.
Carlier worried that firefighting resources may be stretched because several counties are sending firefighters to battle the massive wildfire in Fort McMurray.
But he was confident the resources could be re-directed if needed.
"We have the resources and we can get them there when and if we need them," he said.
With files from Canadian Press
