| Comments | Mackenzie County AB, July 11-20, 2012. As many as 11 wildfires burned out of control in Mackenzie County in northwestern Alberta, leading to two community evacuations. All Zama residents, including work camps were evacuated under a mandatory evacuation order on Tuesday, July 10 until July 20. The Zama access road was closed and a controlled barricade was set up at the Assumption Bypass/Apache Road into Zama to ensure that only authorized personnel were allowed access. A reception centre for evacuees was set up in the town hall of High Level. There were approximately 300 evacuees, including 134 from Zama and 164 from the Dene Tha’ First Nation. The evacuation order was lifted July 17. Firefighters from Yukon, New Brunswick, Ontario, Alaska, and Mexico, along with helicopters and other equipment, joined over 300 firefighters already taking shifts to battle the fires in northern Alberta. Alberta’s Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (ESRD) provided sprinkling protection systems for all north end homes with additional sprinkling systems having been ordered to protect the homes located in the Zama interior. A sprinkling system for the fireguard along the containment line was also provided by ESRD. On July 17, Alberta Health Services issued an air quality advisory for residents in the La Crete area with respiratory concerns, advising them to visit the advanced ambulatory care centre located in the La Crete Community Health Centre. The advisory was lifted July 23. |