UPDATE: Evacuation accommodation full in Lac La Biche; New reception center established in Cold Lake

UPDATE – An important update has been issued for evacuees fleeing the advancing wildfire near Fort McMurray. Lac La Biche, previously designated as an evacuation location, has reached full capacity for accommodation. If you are an evacuee requiring food and shelter and cannot find accommodations in Lac La Biche, please report to the new reception center established in Cold Lake Agriplex, located at 4608 38th Avenue.

Cold Lake, located 147 kilometers southeast of Lac La Biche via Highway 55, offers an alternative location for evacuees needing assistance. For the latest updates and information for evacuees, visit rmwb.ca/alerts.

As a wildfire rages perilously close to Fort McMurray, residents of several neighborhoods have been directed to evacuate immediately, with Lac La Biche County designated as a safe haven. The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) issued the evacuation order Tuesday afternoon, prompting Abasand, Beacon Hill, Prairie Creek, and Grayling Terrace residents to leave their homes due to the advancing flames. 

“The proximity of these neighborhoods to the potential path of the wildfire necessitates their evacuation. Clearing these areas will enable Regional Emergency Services to mount a more effective defense against the encroaching blaze,” stated RMWB officials. 

The evacuation order, announced via the Alberta Emergency Alert at approximately 2 p.m. on May 14th, mandates that residents vacate the specified areas by 4 p.m. “Due to the approaching wildfire [MWF-017], interfacing communities are being evacuated to allow for fire suppression efforts. all residents and businesses in these areas must leave the area by 4 p.m.,” reads the emergency alert. 

Meanwhile, an Evacuation Alert remains in effect for several areas, including Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek, Gregoire Lake Estates, Fort McMurray First Nations #468, Anzac, and Rickards Landing Industrial Park. 

For those in need of accommodation, the Parkland 2 Hotel in Lac La Biche has been designated as the primary evacuation site. “Evacuees should register online. Those needing accommodation or support should report to the Parkland 1 registration center in Lac La Biche. Evacuees are encouraged to leave Fort McMurray but may remain in other neighborhoods if they wish,” RMWB advised. 

Residents are urged to utilize designated evacuation routes and secure their homes by locking all doors and closing windows before departure. Additionally, individuals aware of vulnerable residents requiring assistance in evacuation are encouraged to notify emergency responders promptly.