Northern Alberta hamlet on alert as wildfire danger rises in Fort McMurray, Lac La Biche areas

This week's parched conditions have sparked multiple forest fires in northern Alberta, pushing the wildfire threat to extreme in the FortMcMurrayand Lac LaBicheregions and putting one small community on evacuation alert.

"We are on extreme right now for fire danger," said LynnDaina,FortMcMurray'swildfire information officer. "Our grasses, our fine fuels are tinder dry. So they will ignite and spread quickly."

The persistent heat and arid conditions are expected to remain over the next fewdays in the region, which is still recovering from the devastating 2016 wildfire thatforced 80,000 people in FortMcMurrayto flee for safety, and caused more than $3.7 billion in damage.

Janvierput on alert

Residents inJanvier, a hamlet south of FortMcMurray, were told Wednesday night to prepareto evacuate from a wildfire burning 10 kilometres from their community.

A provincial alert and apress release from Wood Buffalomunicipality said thehamlet is not immediately threatened by wildfire and residents should be prepared to leave if an order is issued.

Alberta wildfire and Wood Buffalo Regional Emergency Services are responding to the fire, which is moving towardthe access route to the community of 155 residents.

Alberta Wildfire expects more flare-ups in the Wood Buffalo region and the Lac La Biche forested areas.

"There is potential for this to escalate," states an update posted Tuesday on the Alberta Wildfire website.

Cabins andoilsandssites at risk

Most of the wildfires were sparked by dry lightning, Daina said.

Alberta Wildfire is tackling four forest fires in the region.

The fire that is threatening Janvieris located northwest of Conklin, which is about halfwaybetweenFort McMurray and Lac La Biche.

As of Tuesday, that fire wasabout 100 hectares and classified as out of control. Bulldozer guards have been built inlocations accessible to tractors, and crews have been dropping water and fire retardant.

The largest fire, about 150 kilometres northwest of Lac La Biche, was covering about 1,000 hectares and was alsoclassed as out of control.

Other than Janvier, the wildfires in the Lac LaBichearea are not posing a risk to any other communities. However,an Alberta Wildfire information officer for that area saystrap lines, cabins and small oilsands operations are under threat.

"Right now there area few plant sites, well sites, compressor stations that could be jeopardized by the fire," said Leslie Lozinski, the Lac La Biche wildfire information officer. "We are also getting a lot of calls from hunters with trap lines and trap cabins that could be jeopardized."

• MORE FORTMcMURRAYNEWS:JannArden apologizes for 'tar sands' tweet, while FortMcMurrayconcert sells out
• MORE FORTMcMURRAYNEWS:Alberta now has world's largest expanse of protected boreal forest
• MORE FORTMcMURRAYNEWS:Fort McMurray region's first census since the wildfire will count how many returned

The province has imposed fire restrictions beginning at the southern boundary of Big Lakes County, north of Peace River, within Wood Buffalo National Park, theLac La Biche and Fort McMurrayareas. Fire permits have been suspendedand backyard fire pits, random campfires, charcoal briquettes, turkey fryers,torches, exploding targets and fireworks are banned.

Propane fire pits, gas stoves or propaneBBQscan still be used in communities and in back country and camping areas.

Connect with David Thurton, CBC'sFort McMurraycorrespondent, onFacebook,Twitter,LinkedInor email him atdavid.thurton@cbc.ca