By Pearl Lorentzen, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lakeside Leader
July 21, 2025
As of July 21 at 10:30 a.m., there were six evacuation alerts for communities in the Slave Lake Forest Area and one ongoing evacuation. The two new ones were issued the night of Sunday, July 20. On July 20 at 9 p.m., the M.D. Lesser Slave River and the Town of Slave Lake issued evacuation alerts. The M.D. put the communities of Marten Beach, Summerwood, township road 740, and Gilwood Golf course on four-hour evacuation alert. Slave Lake and residents of Devonshire Road in the M.D. were on an eight-hour alert. This meant that residents are to prepare for a possible evacuation and monitor the situation, but they did not have to leave at that time. The situation may have changed since then, possibly for the better, with rain in Slave Lake as this was being written the morning of July 21. The Slave Lake and M.D. LSR alerts were because of Slave Lake Wildfire (SWF) 149. Lightning started it in the Marten Hills east of Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park. It was spotted at 8 p.m. on July 20. As of July 21 at 10:30 a.m., it was 44 hectares (ha).
“Lightning sparked one new wildfire last night,” says the 10:17 a.m. July 17, 2025, Slave Lake Forest Area Wildfire Update. “SWF149 located approximately 12 km to the east of Marten Beach and approximately 20 km to the north of Slave Lake is estimated to be 44 hectares and is classified as out of control. Firefighters in helicopters and airtankers responded. Heavy equipment built containment line around the wildfire and night vision-equipped helicopters and firefighters worked overnight. Rain reduced fire activity on this wildfire. Today, additional firefighters and heavy equipment are enroute.” This brought the Slave Lake Wildfires up to 11 active: six out of control, three held, and two under control. SWF149 was spotted after the July 20 Slave Lake Wildfire update, which listed 147 wildfires which had 378,250 hectares burnt. Of these, 10 were active. There were seven new wildfires from July 14 to early morning of July 21. Other than 149, most of these new wildfires were small and extinguished by July 20. The Red Earth East Complex had eight fires: five out of control (SWF085, SWF089, SWF092, SWF094 and SWF100) and three being held (SWF095, SWF099 and SWF115). Elsewhere in the Slave Lake Forest Area, Chipewyan Lake remained evacuated. As had been planned last week, residents were allowed to return to Peerless Lake and Trout Lake on Thursday, July 17. These communities plus Red Earth Creek, and Loon Lake are under a two-hour evacuation alert. Residents can keep informed of the wildfire alert situation in various ways. The most recent wildfire update is at alberta.ca/wildifre-update-slave-lake-forest-area, this includes a link to the wildfire status dashboard which has a map of all fires in Alberta. The town and M.D. of LSR alerts went out through Alberta Emergency Alert, Voyent Alert, and on the M.D. and town social media. At July 21 at 10:30 a.m., this was also on the M.D.’s website, but not the town’s.