Alberta Backcountry Evacuation: What the Clearwater County Wildfire Means for Campers

TL;DR: An out-of-control wildfire northwest of Sundre spanning more than 10 square kilometres forced evacuation of all campers within 10 kilometres of Highway 734 on May 14-15, 2026, closing James-Wilson Campground for the May long weekend.

A wildfire burning through the foothills of Clearwater County northwest of Sundre, Alberta, expanded rapidly on Thursday and continued to burn out of control on Friday, May 15, 2026, forcing backcountry campers to evacuate ahead of the May long weekend, according to CBC News.

The fire, detected Thursday in southern Clearwater County, grew to more than 10 square kilometres — over 1,000 hectares — in a matter of hours as severe spring winds drove flames through extremely dry vegetation, according to the Calgary Herald.

Emergency officials ordered everyone within 10 kilometres of Highway 734 near the Highway 584 junction to leave Thursday evening and warned other outdoor users to stay clear of the area so firefighters, heavy equipment and aircraft can work safely.

Where the Fire Is Burning

The out-of-control blaze is burning in southern Clearwater County, about 5 kilometres north of the James-Wilson Provincial Recreation Area and about 3 kilometres northwest of the Highway 584 junction, according to CBC News.

Sundre, the nearest town, sits about 93 kilometres northwest of Calgary, and the fire location is described as about 35 kilometres northwest of Sundre, according to Global News and CBC News.

The area is part of Alberta's west country, a mix of Crown land, provincial recreation sites, logging roads and dispersed camping zones that fills quickly for the May long weekend opening of summer camping season.

The evacuation mapping covers properties west of Range Road 80 and north of the James River, with an evacuation alert placed on a 10-kilometre radius around the fire perimeter, according to the Calgary Herald.

Township descriptions issued through Alberta Emergency Alert placed the alert for the southern portion of Clearwater County, south of Township 35, east of Range 13 and west of Highway 22, according to the Calgary Herald.

Who Had to Leave and What Is Closed

All campers, traffic and anyone in the backcountry within 10 kilometres of Highway 734 near the junction with Highway 584 were ordered to evacuate Thursday evening, according to CBC News.

Sundre RCMP canvassed the area for campers inside the evacuation zone and set up blockades to prevent entry while emergency crews respond, according to CBC News.

James-Wilson Provincial Recreation Area, including James-Wilson Campground, was evacuated and closed until further notice, Alberta Parks said in a social media post Friday morning, according to CBC News.

Access to the wider zone remains restricted and county officials reminded other backcountry users that the area will remain inaccessible until further notice.

Residents in the alert zone do not have to evacuate yet, but emergency officials said people should be prepared to leave at a moment's notice.

Officials said the May long weekend signals the start of the summer camping season, but it is critical the area remains clear for first responders.

Road Closures Around Highways 734, 584 and 40

Portions of Highway 40, also known as Forestry Trunk Road, are closed due to proximity to the fire, according to CBC News.

Blockades are in place at the corner of Highways 734 and 591, at the corner of Coal Camp Road and Highway 734, and on Highway 584 east of Highway 734, according to the Calgary Herald.

RCMP say no one is allowed to enter the area while emergency crews respond, and travelers were advised to revise any travel plans to the area over the long weekend.

The closures could remain in effect over the long weekend, with RCMP confirming that blockades cover roads within a 10-kilometre radius of the fire, according to CityNews reporting via Calgary CityNews.

For backcountry travelers, that means no through travel on the affected sections of Forestry Trunk Road and no access to spur roads, random camping pullouts and trailheads inside the closure.

How Fast Conditions Changed Thursday

The fire was detected Thursday and expanded in a matter of hours, fanned by fierce winds that moved across the province during a severe spring storm, according to CBC News.

Strong winds and extremely dry vegetation challenged crews Thursday, Alberta Wildfire officials said Friday in an updated statement, according to CBC News.

Winds in the area produced gusts exceeding 65 km/h, which increased wildfire activity and pushed smoke into nearby communities, Alberta Wildfire information officer Melissa Story said, according to CityNews.

One camper, Dustin Leonzio, told CityNews he was camping in the area when smoke thickened quickly and direction became hard to judge, prompting his group to pack up and leave fast.

Leonzio said knowledge of backroads and logging roads in the area helped his group get out safely and quickly, according to CityNews.

Bearberry Cabins operator Inge Klis, who has run log cabins near Sundre with her husband Adrian for more than 30 years, said flames burned high on the horizon Thursday night as high winds spread them quickly through forest, according to CBC News.

Firefight Response on Friday

Firefighters, heavy equipment and night-vision-equipped helicopters worked overnight to help contain the fire, officials said, according to CBC News.

Additional crews, helicopters and heavy equipment — along with water-bombing crews — continued working the flames Friday, with air tankers to be requested as conditions allow, according to CBC News and the Calgary Herald.

Aircraft may skim or scoop water from nearby lakes, including Cow Lake, Swan Lake or Burnstick Lake, and people on or near those lakes are urged to give crews space to operate safely, according to the Calgary Herald.

In an updated statement Friday, Alberta Wildfire officials said lower temperatures, lighter winds and higher humidity in the forecast should help crews, according to CBC News.

Story said reduced winds Friday were helpful for firefighting efforts and forecasted cooler conditions over the weekend would also help those efforts, according to the Calgary Herald.

Story added that crews were not yet clear of danger but changing weather was giving firefighters the upper hand, according to CBC News.

Smoke, Fire Bans and Local Operators

Smoke from the wildfire remains visible from nearby communities, though the province's 10 a.m. report Friday said there was currently no risk to nearby communities, according to the Calgary Herald.

Klis said smoke remained thick in the Sundre area Friday, but winds had died down overnight, and flames appeared to be burning lower Friday morning, according to CBC News.

She said several guests had already cancelled May long weekend reservations at Bearberry Cabins and she was unsure how many would still travel now that an evacuation alert was in place and skies remained smoky.

Ken Edwards, manager of Camp Teepee Pole east of the wildfire, said Friday a small group had booked the camp for the weekend but that booking was cancelled, according to the Calgary Herald.

Edwards said the fire was originally about seven kilometres west of the camp and on-site cameras showed no smoke Friday, which he viewed as a positive sign.

Mountain View County upgraded a fire restriction to a fire ban Friday, and the Town of Sundre also put a fire ban in place, with officials citing dry forest fuels and stretched response resources, according to the Calgary Herald.

Calgary and surrounding areas were under an extreme fire warning, with forest fuels described as extremely dry and capable of supporting fast-spreading, high-intensity fires that are difficult to control, according to the Calgary Herald.

Wider Alberta Fire Picture on May 15

This Clearwater County wildfire is now the largest of 24 fires burning across Alberta on Friday — and the only one currently burning out of control, according to CBC News.

The fire's cause remains under investigation.

In the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area, where the wildfire is located, there have been 36 wildfires since Jan. 1, according to the Alberta government's website as reported by the Calgary Herald.

Meanwhile, more residents forced from homes near Whitecourt on Monday were allowed to return Friday as a separate Woodlands County fire subsided, according to CBC News.

Woodlands County officials said evacuation orders began lifting in more areas of the West Ridge neighbourhood, with re-entry starting Thursday.

That Woodlands County fire, about 3.5 kilometres southeast of Whitecourt and less than one kilometre south of Highway 43, is now classified as being held, according to CBC News.

What Backcountry Users Should Do Now

Provincial wildfire information officer Melissa Story said RCMP were involved in evacuation efforts and continue to monitor the evacuation zone, according to CBC News.

She urged people to respect the evacuation zone and road closures for the safety of the public and firefighters, warning that it is very unsafe to enter a closed fire zone.

Story encouraged anyone thinking of heading to the area for the long weekend to make different plans, according to CBC News.

Global News quoted Story reminding travelers that the fire sits near popular camping areas and that an active, out-of-control wildfire requires the public to stay clear.

Residents Miroslava Kirov and her husband Pavel, who live in Bearberry about 13 kilometres east of the fire, told Global News they had suitcases packed and were watching for glow in the sky overnight after police visited Thursday.

Sundre Mayor Richard Warnock said the town followed Mountain View County with a full fire ban to avoid adding to response pressures, according to Global News.

Sources referenced