Albertans urged to be extra vigilant due to wildfires in the province

Four new wildfires in the last few days have led officials within the province to ask Albertans to be extra vigilant while in the woods.

It brings the total of wildfires now to six.

The biggest being the Spreading Creek Wildfire near the northern end of Banff National Park.

Nearly 7,000 hectares as of Monday morning have burned. According to officials it’s an area the size of Red Deer.

Flames and thick smoke have forced first responders to close parts of Highway 93. They’re hoping to re-open it Monday morning but its status is still unclear.

They’ve brought in 108 firefighters, 7 helicopters and several pieces of heavy equipment to manage the situation.

Parks officials are containing the western edge of the fire using ground hosing and water bucketing.

Elsewhere a fire in the Slave Lake region continues to burn out of control, destroying roughly 3,300 hectares.

One-hundred firefighters, three air tankers, nine helicopters and 24 pieces of heavy equipment have been struggling to contain the area.

A lot of the region has been plagued with smoke from wildfires burning in the Northwest Territories.

A gas plant and an observation tower are in the area and precautions have been taken to protect the structures.

Other fires burning in the province at the moment include one near Fort McMurray, another in Slave Lake, one in the Lac La Biche area and a fourth near Grande Prairie.

The forecast isn’t showing a lot in terms of improvement over the coming days.

Officials with the Alberta Sustainable Resource Development are cautioning against the use of off-highway vehicles in the hot-spots.

They add always put out your campfire when you go off for a walk, ride or turn in for the night. Soak it, stir it and soak it again.

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