WHITECOURT — Warm temperatures and strong winds continue to fuel dozens of wildfires burning throughout Alberta.
As of Thursday afternoon there were 34 wildfires burning across the province, three of them classified as out of control.
Geoffrey Driscoll, provincial Wildfire Information Officer, says because spring started so late this year it’s developed into a concentrated fire season.
One of the largest fires is burning near Whitecourt, covering an estimated five square kilometres.
Helicopters, bulldozers and air tankers have been brought in to fight the fire, which is moving away from the town.
In Parkland County approximately 30 firefighters spent the day battling a large fire that broke out Wednesday afternoon.
Their efforts prevented the fire from spreading to a nearby subdivision, and only minor property damage has been reported.
“We really ask our residents, and certainly all the people in Alberta to really be careful this time of the year, because fires do happen very, very easily,” said Parkland County Fire Services Chief Jim Phelan.
In a pre-emptive strike Strathcona County issued a full fire ban on Thursday, Sturgeon County has issued a fire advisory, and residents of Parkland County are being warned that the fire hazard rating for the area is high.