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Newbrook residents back home, but fire threat continues

Last Updated: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 | 12:18 PM ET

CBC News

Residents of Newbrook, about 100 kilometres northeast of Edmonton, are back in their homes, but the threat from a wildfire that burned all weekend is not over, said a town official Tuesday.

The fire forced about 150 people out of their homes Friday night and crept within one kilometre of the hamlet. It destroyed two farm homes and almost 2,000 hectares of forest before emergency officials sounded the "all clear" on Monday.

"We want tons and tons of rain and no wind," Cory Kuzyk, a member of Thorhild County council and a volunteer firefighter, told CBC News Tuesday.

The welcome sign in Newbrook, about 100 kilometres northeast of Edmonton, was shrouded in smoke all weekend as crews battled a fire threatening the community. (CBC)

"We've still got a lot of hot spots out here and I was just listening to the weather forecast and those winds are not looking too good for us this morning," said Kuzyk, whose home was only a kilometre away from the leading edge of the fire.

The winds in the area were forecast at 30 km/h gusting to 50 km/h Tuesday, although light rain was also expected in the evening.

Kuzyk said that once a fire like this takes hold, it can smoulder for a long time in the heavy brush and peat that carpets most of the area. High winds can fan that into flames, he said, resulting in another wildfire.

"They're talking [fire crews] could be here three weeks, a month. It's a very labour intensive type program where you basically gotta run lines, poke, and prod everything and roll it all over and mix it up and turn it into mush."

The Newbrook fire is one of 34 forest fires reported by Alberta Sustainable Resources. None is listed as out of control.

On Saturday provincial officials in B.C. sent 68 firefighters to help out with the Alberta fires.

Internal Links

Alberta town's residents allowed home as wildfire gets under control
B.C. crews deployed to help combat Alberta wildfires
Northern Alberta wildfire prompts state of emergency

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