Ukrainian heritage village fire forces Alberta highway closure

15 hour_ago 7

Edmonton·Updated

A wildfire prompted the closure of Highway 16 and a present cancelled evacuation alert near Elk Island National Park.

RCMP accidental occurrence is present contained, crews stay connected scene

Emily Williams · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 18, 2025 9:00 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 minutes ago

statue successful beforehand of partition of burning rubble

Several buildings successful the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village eastbound of Edmonton were burned Friday successful a wildfire adjacent Elk Island National Park that prompted a now-cancelled evacuation alert.

The wildfire is present considered to beryllium contained, and Highway 16 has reopened successful some directions aft being closed for respective hours.

Photos shared by RCMP connected Friday amusement important harm to the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village and emergency alert issued astatine 8:24 p.m. advised residents surviving adjacent the site to hole for evacuation arsenic a precaution — but that alert was cancelled astatine 8:51 p.m..

WATCH: Wildfire burning near Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village:

Wildfire eastbound of Edmonton prompts evacuation

This video captured by David Czerwinski shows a fast-spreading occurrence extracurricular Elk Island National Park connected Friday night. The flames dispersed to aggregate structures successful the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, RCMP say, though the grade of the damages cannot yet beryllium confirmed.

RCMP confirmed Friday nighttime that the occurrence has dispersed to multiples structures successful the 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.

Fort Saskatchewan RCMP said crews volition stay warring what is near of the occurrence and are asking the nationalist to stay vigilant and debar immoderate enactment that could interfere with occurrence crews.

Jay Zaal, spokesperson from Lamont County, said the village's visitant centre has been impacted by the fire, which has present dispersed to the northbound broadside of Highway 16.

"Crews are moving to incorporate the fire; precocious winds are creating challenges arsenic it is excessively windy for aerial support," Zaal told CBC by substance connection soon aft 7:30 p.m.

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

Lamont County Emergency Services responded to the occurrence astir 4 p.m. and called successful communal assistance from Strathcona County, Zaal said.

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.

RCMP said the origin of the occurrence is inactive nether investigation.