Evacuees arriving in Calgary after fleeing the wildfires in Jasper will continue to have access to a reception centre from 8 a.m. to midnight.
Those arriving at the centre (Shouldice Arena, 1515 Home Road N.W.) who need services outside those hours will be accommodated by calling 311, the City of Calgary said in a written statement.
“We will make any adjustments necessary based on the number of evacuees arriving,” it also said on its website.
As of Tuesday morning, 1,460 evacuees had registered with the city, it said.
Meanwhile, GlobalMedic, P&G and the City of Calgary will provide free wash and fold laundry services to Jasper wildfire evacuees, the city also said, with bags and labels being offered as of Thursday.
Read the latest about the Jasper wildfires:
- How to support Jasper wildfire evacuees in Calgary
- Officials praise Jasper fire response
- Lives left behind in the days following Jasper evacuation
- Couple’s memories of church razed by wildfire
- Media tour of Jasper a mix of emotions with relief in victories, grief in losses
Convoy for those affected by wildfire near Water Valley
Days after a wildfire 25 kilometres west of Water Valley was classified as being held, people affected by an area closure are being allowed to retrieve their belongings.
An escorted convoy Burnt Timber Road/Stud Creek Road from the Burnt Timber Gas Plant is being scheduled for Wednesday at 2 p.m., the Municipal District of Bighorn said on its website.
“Persons needing to access the road will need to register on-site at the Burnt Timber Gas Plant between noon and 2 p.m.,” the M.D. of Bighorn said. “The escort will depart the gas plant at 2 p.m. and will return to the gas plant at 6 p.m.”
Those taking part will need to show photo identification. Participants will also be required to check out at the Burnt Timber Gas Plant when leaving the area after retrieving their personal effects.
The municipal district will organize a second convoy to the same area on Thursday, at the same time.
The fire was last reported as being held at a size of 65 hectares, the M.D. of Bighorn said.
“Response to this wildfire includes 22 wildland firefighters, two helicopters, heavy equipment and access to airtanker support when required,” it said in a statement issued late on Sunday. “Active suppression will continue on this wildfire in the coming days.”
An evacuation alert remains in effect for the area bounded Doc Mills Road (RR62A), Whispering Pines Road (TWP 294A), and Burnt Timber Road, which means residents should be prepared to leave their homes on one hour’s notice.
Hot weather brings new wildfire worries to Kootenays
British Columbia officials say recent rains and cooler temperatures have knocked down wildfire activity, especially in the northern half of the province, but another hot and dry spell is expected to settle in across the southern Interior.
But she says about 1,350 people are still on evacuation orders, primarily in the central Kootenay region of southeastern B.C.
A further 2,800 people have been told to be ready to leave on short notice.
Cliff Chapman, the director of provincial operations with the BC Wildfire Service, says forecasts suggest a “hot, dry pattern” will return in August.
Chapman told a wildfire briefing that another high-pressure ridge could build over B.C. by this weekend, especially for southern parts of the province, ushering in a return to seasonal or above-seasonal temperatures.
“Right now, we’re forecasting for sort of that Kamloops Fire Centre, Southeast Fire Centre, we’re going to see a return to the low- to mid-30 degree temperatures,” he said, adding that will make for “very challenging” firefighting conditions.
“We are looking at probably the next 10 to 14 days of seeing little to no rain in the southern part of the province, and that may also push into the north.”
Many of the roughly 350 wildfires currently active throughout B.C. are concentrated in the southeast, where hundreds of residents of the communities of Slocan and Silverton have been forced out of their homes due to the danger.
The number of active fires is down from more than 400 last week, with 46 per cent of the current blazes classified as burning out of control.
The wildfire service says 90 per cent of the active fires were sparked by lightning storms that swept over much of the Interior in the last few weeks.
The number of people deployed to fight the fires has grown substantially in the last two weeks to just over 1,500 firefighters and more than 200 structure protection personnel. Just over 190 aircraft are also being used in the battle.
— The Canadian Press