Re-entry centre for Redwater wildfire evacuees to close, signalling end of evacuation process

Cameron MacCuish · CBC News

· Posted: May 16, 2025 3:57 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 minutes ago

Sturgeon County is closing its re-entry enactment centre for residents who were forced to evacuate due to the fact that of the Redwater Recreation Area wildfire.

In a quality release, the region said the centre successful Redwater, Alta., astir 70 kilometres northbound of Edmonton, volition beryllium permanently closed arsenic of 4:30 p.m. connected Friday.

The centre provided residents with resources astir intelligence health, utilities, insurance, discarded management and wellness services. Evacuees were encouraged by the region to sojourn the centre earlier returning home.

Residents were allowed to instrumentality location connected Tuesday morning. However, Sturgeon County remains successful a authorities of section emergency. 

The Redwater Recreation Area remains closed arsenic the wildfire is inactive active. The region said the occurrence has created biology hazards like falling trees, exposed roots and unstable ground. 

The quality merchandise said the wildfire is being held astatine 3,230 hectares, with firefighters moving to extinguish remaining blistery spots.

It besides said the hazard of wildfires is inactive astatine an all-time precocious successful the area. Outdoor fires are inactive banned successful the region and the cognition of all-terrain vehicles is besides prohibited.

Sturgeon County officials said astatine slightest 71 residences were evacuated due to the wildfire.