No end in sight to central Alberta evacuation orders as wildfire danger escalates

Thousands of people in west-central Alberta evacuated more than one week ago won't be allowed to return for at least another week. 

Residents of Brazeau County, including 7,200 residents of the town of Drayton Valley, were evacuated from their homes  on May 4. A notice from the county issued Thursday evening said there is no concrete date for their return in sight. 

Brazeau County is the latest Alberta community to warn residents that mandatory evacuation orders may stay in place for days or weeks longer due to the loss of critical infrastructure or the potential hazards posed by encroaching flames.

Officials have no choice but to keep residents out of communities that remain under threat, said Melissa Story, a provincial information officer with Alberta Wildfire. 

"We know it's frustrating," Story said Friday.  "Our focus right now is the safety of Albertans and their communities.

"We are doing everything we can in terms of wildfire mitigation to try and get them back to their communities as quickly as we can."

Since last week, when more than 100 fires ignited across the province, communities are assessing damages and reinforcing defence lines as hot conditions forecast for the days ahead threaten to increase tinder-dry conditions and aggravate the crisis.

As of Friday morning, 73 wildfires were burning in Alberta's forest protection areas, including 20 that are out of control. That number does not include seven fires burning outside Alberta's forest protection areas.

Hot, dry weather along with powerful winds are anticipated in the days ahead. More than 16,000 people remain displaced, down from a high of about 31,000. 

"The wildfire danger will elevate over the weekend," said Story.

"We are sitting very high on the wildfire danger right now, but we could be seeing it into the extremes by Sunday." 

Government and wildfire officials, including Alberta's Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis, will provide an update on the wildfire situation at 3 p.m. MT Friday. Watch the news conference live here. 

The Brazeau County update said the wildfire situation remains too volatile for residents to return.

"We hear your frustration: all of the staff, crews, and volunteers responding to this emergency are working very hard to get you home as quickly as possible," the county said. "We know people are anxious, tired and want to go home. Our crews are working around the clock to make this happen."