There were 91 fires in progress, 27 of which were considered uncontrolled and 18 classified as “controllable”. An area of 1,458 hectares burned 20 houses and a police station.
Residents of Drayton Valley, 140 km (87 miles) west of the provincial capital Edmonton, were also ordered to evacuate Thursday night.
Information unit manager for Alberta Wildfire, Christie Tucker, said there were a lot more wildfires this year.
“There is a lot more wildfire activity this year than in the past,” he said at a press conference on Friday.
“It’s going to be warmer, it’s going to be windier and we expect extreme fire behavior. Firefighters need to be prepared for this challenge,” he said.
Alberta has imposed a ban on unauthorized burning, including outdoor fireplaces, across the province. Recreational use of off-road vehicles on public lands, including ORV lanes, is now also prohibited.
Saskatchewan, a region adjacent to Alberta, also had to deal with 16 wildfires Friday evening.
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