Wildfire near national park burns buildings at Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village

A devastating wildfire near Elk Island National Park east of Edmonton caused significant damage to several buildings in the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village on Friday. The fire prompted an evacuation alert for nearby residents, but fortunately, the alert has since been cancelled.

Officials have reported that the wildfire is now contained, and Highway 16 has been reopened in both directions after being closed for several hours. However, photos shared by RCMP show that at least one building in the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village has been reduced to rubble.

The Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, which is an open-air museum showcasing the life of early settlers and Ukrainian culture, contains dozens of historic buildings. Unfortunately, the extent of the damage has not yet been confirmed by Fort Saskatchewan RCMP.

Jay Zaal, a spokesperson for Lamont County, stated that the village’s visitor center has been impacted by the fire, which also spread to the north side of Highway 16. Crews are currently working to contain the fire, but high winds have made it too dangerous for air support.

Elk Island National Park and Lamont County are currently under a fire restriction, and Lamont County Emergency Services responded to the fire with mutual aid from Strathcona County. Alberta Wildfire has stated that the fire falls outside of the province’s forest protection area, and regional firefighting agencies have not requested additional help.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation by RCMP. The community is urged to avoid the area as crews continue to battle the remaining flames. It is a heartbreaking situation for the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, but efforts are being made to assess the damage and support the restoration process.