Image: Alta Link / Twitter / Electrical Transmission lines damaged by wildfire near Edson, AB.

By Canadian Press

Wildfire leads to closure of Highway 16

Wildfire leads to closure of Highway 16 through Edson, damages power transmission lines

Jun 11, 2023 | 8:55 AM

EDMONTON — Wildfires are burning dangerously close to a central Albertan town in what federal officials say is an “unprecedented” fire season across Canada.

Alberta’s largest regulated electricity transmission company is warning residents in areas near the town of Edson to be prepared for extended power outages.

AltaLink issued a series of tweets saying several transmission towers south of Edson have been consumed and toppled by a spreading wildfire.

The company says so far, transmission infrastructure supplying power to towns west of Edson has not been affected.

The Saturday evening tweets from Alta Link’s say the situation remains fluid.

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Evacuation orders remain in place for Edson and parts of Yellowhead County, which is about 200 kilometres west of Edmonton.

In addition, a series of highways near Edson, including the heavily travelled Highway 16, has been closed

Officials said in a video update Saturday that part of the massive fire was just 1.5 kilometres south of Edson’s boundary.