“We have a great resource of solar generation in Alberta. However, when the sun sets so does that supply.”
Albertans used more electricity than ever before on Wednesday and Thursday.
While cranked-up air conditioners mitigated temperatures in the mid-30s for many, power outages limited the ability for others to stay cool — and one Northern Alberta community was evacuated because of a threat of being isolated by wildfire.
“We hit a new all-time summer peak record yesterday, July 10, of 12,122 megawatts. The previous summer record was 11,820 MW set the day before, July 9,” said Kailyn Park, communications adviser for the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO).
“We have a great resource of solar generation in Alberta. However, when the sun sets so does that supply. As the sun dropped yesterday, steady thermal generation and additional wind contributed to us getting through the high demand,” Park said.
Albertans can contribute by conserving energy where possible especially through the peak demand hours of 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Park said.
The system controllers continued to remain “agile,” responding to ever-changing dynamics across the Alberta interconnected electrical system (AIES), she said.
“We have forecasted adequate generation for the next several days.”
One thousand Epcor customers were left without power in the heat of the afternoon Thursday in Edmonton’s Hodgson, Leger, Magrath Heights and Ogilvie Ridge neighbourhoods, according to an Epcor outage map.
The outage was expected to last for at least two hours. No cause was identified.
Little Red River Cree Nation evacuates
Out of control at more than 41,000 hectares in size, Fire 61 or HWF061, prompted Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta to declare a state of local emergency.
“The wildfire has grown during the heatwave. Operators and crews are continuing their efforts to fight the fire and to build dozer guard lines,” said Miranda D’Or, an administrator with Little Red River Cree Nation.
The community successfully evacuated 981 residents from Garden River by Wednesday evening.
“It’s not in direct threat of the fire, it’s just because Highway 58 East going to Garden River might have a really good possibility of not having any road access for the next couple days, if it comes to that,” said Little Red River Cree Nation Chief Conroy Sewepagaham, who delivered the message via Facebook in Cree as well.
“In addition to this, if Fire 61 continues to track towards the highway, there is a good possibility that there will be no power for Garden River,” he said.
“We don’t want anyone getting trapped in Garden River due to lack of access to the highway, because that’ll be closed.”
The Semo Wildfire Complex was 30 km away from Garden River, and technically closer to John D’Or, 21 km away, and 17 km from Fox Lake, which weren’t under evacuation alert by midday Thursday.
Garden River evacuees went to John D’or Prairie Horizon Camp, John D’or Prairie School, John D’or Prairie Willow Camp, and hotels in High Level and Peace River.
Up-to-the-minute Alberta emergency alert information can be found at Alberta emergency alert, or by downloading the Alberta emergency alert mobile app.
Since Jan. 1, there’s been 692 wildfires recorded in the Forest Protection Area, burning more than 184,000 hectares.
By Thursday, there were 92 active wildfires (Including four carryovers from last season) in the province’s Forest Protection Area.
Some 31 were classified “out of control,” 25 were “being held,” 32 were under control and 612 have been extinguished.
Information on wildfires can be found at the Alberta Wildfire status dashboard.
A fire ban remains in place for the entire Forest Protection Area of Alberta.
Cities, towns, villages and summer villages, as well as federal lands such as national parks, are exempt from this ban, but have authority to issue their own bans.
Albertans should visit the website or social media for their local municipality to confirm if a fire ban is in effect in their area.
For information on activities prohibited under this ban, visit alberta.ca/fire-bans.
More sun in forecast
Stephen Berg, an Alberta meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, said a ridge of warm air coming up from places like Montana and Colorado brings with it more sunlight and daytime heating.
There’s a 30 per cent chance of localized thunderstorms. The days ahead may bring wildfire smoke from the North, with the possibility of a special air quality advisory, Berg said.
Over the weekend, temperatures may cool to the mid-20s, with some rain, but another ridge early next week could get much of Alberta back into temperatures near the 30-degree C mark by Wednesday and Thursday.
For the elderly, babies and young children, or other vulnerable populations, the danger starts at lower temperatures, from 27 to 28 degrees C for long periods of time.
The signs of illness from hot weather start with heat exhaustion — excessive sweat, dizziness, muscle cramps, confusion, headache and fainting.
Heat stroke is a medical emergency.
Foot protection and ample water and shade are essential for dogs, who cool from their paws and can be helped to cool by getting their toes wet, and shouldn’t be left outside.
And it’s time for that annual common-sense reminder that children, pets and others who are vulnerable must not be left in cars, where temperatures skyrocket in summer heat.