Grass fire prompts evacuation, closure of Highway 16 near Elk Island National Park

Emily Williams · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 18, 2025 9:00 PM EDT | Last Updated: 4 minutes ago

Some residents northbound of Highway 16 adjacent Elk Island National Park person been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control grassfire that has dispersed to aggregate structures successful the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village.

The occurrence has besides prompted the closure of Highway 16 in some directions betwixt the entranceway to Elk Island National Park and Range Road 194. 

Fort Saskatchewan RCMP are asking the nationalist to debar the country and find alternate routes. It said the fire, which is located behind the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, has started to dispersed and is not considered nether control.

Evacuations person begun for residents connected Range Road 195, northbound of Highway 16. Fort Saskatchewan RCMP counsel that anyone surviving successful the country who is not yet affected by the evacuation, should hole an evacuation kit should the occurrence dispersed further.

RCMP confirmed Thursday nighttime that the occurrence has dispersed to multiple Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village — an open-air depository depicting beingness of aboriginal settlers and Ukrainian culture. The colony contains dozens of historic buildings. Fort Saskatchewan RCMP said the concern is evolving rapidly and the grade of the damages cannot yet beryllium confirmed.

Elk Island National Park and neighbouring Lamont County and Beaver County are currently nether a occurrence restriction.

Fort Saskatchewan RCMP said officers archetypal responded to the occurrence astatine 5:30 p.m.

A spokesperson for Alberta Wildfire told CBC News the occurrence falls extracurricular of the province's wood extortion country and the determination firefighting agencies person not requested further help.