On Friday evening, County of Grande Prairie fire crews would start a weekend of fire fighting against two blazes, one 13 km northwest of Valhalla Centre and the other four kilometres east of Teepee Creek. 

Hours later, the county declared a state of local emergency as the Teepee Creek fire, near Kleskun Creek and the Smoky River, would cause the evacuation of 17 homes and place another 90 on alert, said County of Grande Prairie Fire Chief Trevor Grant. 

“We're working really hard to get a perimeter around the fire and make sure that it can jump over that perimeter with the high wind conditions we've had over the last couple of days; it's been a concern,” he said. 

“We've had some hotspots near the perimeter of the fire, and we don't want to let people go home to just have to make them leave again, so we want to make sure that once they go home, they're going to be home for good.” 

Grant said that although two fires were burning at the same time, the Teepee Creek area evacuations prompted declaration of the local state of emergency. 

“Once the evacuations are complete, that state of local emergency is going to be rescinded,” said Grant.

Evacuations in Valhalla also happened on Friday, but those who were displaced returned home once the fire was under control the next day.

On Tuesday afternoon, some Teepee Creek fire evacuees were able to return home and the evacuation alert was also shrunk in size. 

By Monday morning, the fire near Teepee Creek would be about 1,382 hectares large and still classified as out of control while the Valhalla fire burned around 100 hectares. 

The county said no homes were damaged or lost from the fires. 

Crews worked over the weekend to create fireguards. 

On Sunday, about 80 firefighters were working on the Teepee Creek fire with 20 pieces of heavy equipment, four helicopters, eight fire engines, three fire tenders, seven commercial water trucks, two structural protection units, and two command vehicles.

Alberta Wildfire implemented its night vision helicopters to assist in fighting the blaze as well as find hot spots.

Meanwhile, another 26 firefighters worked to extinguish the fire near Valhalla Centre.

Grant said resources from across the region were able to help.

“We have some more resources from Alberta Wildfire coming in their crews that can actually get into the trees and do a lot more mop-up work that kind of stuff we're not trained to do,” Grant said Tuesday morning.

More work is still needed on the fire break, said Grant. He said it needs to be a bit bigger before people can return to their homes, especially with the current winds. 

The fire jumped the Smoky River on Friday. 

Grant said cause of the fires are still unknown but under investigation. 

“We're still not out of the woods yet,” he said. 

“We haven't had any moisture, and even when we do get some it's going to be really dry unless we get like a week of sustained rain,” said Grant, who reminded residents to be extra careful this summer for fire safety. 

Alberta Wildfire has the Grande Prairie Forest Area at an extreme risk of wildfires as of Tuesday. 

As of Tuesday, a fire ban is still in effect for the Grande Prairie area.

The ban includes all existing fire permits, all outdoor wood fires, backyard firepits, BBQ charcoal briquettes, fireworks, and exploding targets.

*Current to 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 15

A timeline of events

Friday, May 10

6 p.m.: Residents around the Teepee Creek area see smoke east of the hamlet.

8:46 p.m.: An emergency alert is sent out to County of Grande Prairie residents; anyone from Kleskun Creek North to Township Road 742 and everyone from Township Road 734 and Range Road 32 were to evacuate immediately.

11 p.m.: The County of Grande declares a state of local emergency. 

It reports the Valhalla fire at about 90 hectares. The county fire service and Alberta Wildfire crews will fight it overnight.

The Teepee Creek fire also has firefighters from both departments trying to contain it, but heavy winds push the fire east, and across the Smoky River. Alberta Wildfire says the fire has travelled about 13 kilometres.

Saturday, May 11 

The region wakes up to smoke-filled skies, mostly from carry-over fires from B.C. that are becoming more active due to heavy winds, according to Alberta Wildfire.

The Teepee Creek fire is now about 900 hectares, and crews have completed about 40 per cent of the fire guard. 

Due to the smoke in the area, all of Alberta Wildifre's aircraft are grounded.

7:30 p.m.: The Valhalla fire is being held and is now 100 hectares in size. 

9 p.m.: The Teepee Creek fire grows to about 1,382 hectares, and the south side of the fire guard is complete, with the north side guard about 70 per cent complete, says the county. Crews work overnight to complete the fire guard.

Sunday, May 12

The region wakes up to blue skies and Alberta Wildfire can begin its air operations again.

2:30 p.m.: Additional crews and equipment from Alberta Wildfire, MD of Greenview, City of Grande Prairie, MD of Smoky River, Big Lakes County, and Town of Slave Lake arrive to combat the Teepee Creek fire.

About 80 firefighters are working on the fire, along with 20 pieces of heavy equipment, four helicopters, eight fire engines, three fire tenders, seven commercial water trucks, two structural protection units, and two command vehicles. 

8 p.m.:  Alberta Wildfire prepares to use a night vision helicopter and heavy equipment to secure a perimeter on priority hotspots in the Teepee Creek fire. 

Alberta Wildfire reports another wildfire about 40 kilometres south of Grande Prairie. An air tanker makes a drop, and two wildfire crews are dispatched to the site.

About 26 firefighters continue to work on extinguishing the fire near Valhalla, according to Alberta Wildfire.

Monday, May 13

Alberta Wildfire reports that throughout Sunday night and early Monday morning, heavy bucketing occurred on the Teepee Creek wildfire, with 42 buckets of water dropping about 14,700 gallons of water on flare-ups.

It says additional resources are expected to be available in the coming days.  

9 a.m.: The county says the fire guard is now complete. Structural protection continues on three homes and two cabins, and mop-up is starting to happen. No structures have been damaged or lost.

2:30 p.m.: Alberta Wildfire says the fire 40 kilometres south of Grande Prairie is listed as being held and is about 0.25 hectares. Three firefighters and a helicopter are on the scene.

9 p.m.: Alberta Wildfire said high winds made it difficult for firefighters, noting “at times the fire was very active with visible smoke columns and flame.”

Alberta Wildfire said a night vision helicopter will be working on the fire overnight.

Tuesday, May 14

Alberta Wildfire is expecting additional resources at the Teepee Creek fire to begin determining if the fire is still burning in specific locations. 

County of Grande Prairie Fire Chief Trevor Grant said he is also looking to work more on the fire guard around the Teepee Creek fire. 

3:30 p.m.: Evacuation orders for some are removed and the evacuation alert also shrinks in size.

8:00 p.m.: Alberta Wildfire says there is no growth on the Teepee Creek fire.