‘Significant progress’ made on Caribou Lake Wildfire containment: officials

A firefighter works on the Caribou Lake Wildfire in northeastern Alberta on June 6, 2025. (Source: Alberta Wildfire)

Firefighting crews have made enough progress containing a wildfire in northeastern Alberta to allow residents to return home.

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The Caribou Lake Wildfire south of Winefred Lake is still classified as out of control. However, Alberta Wildfire has made “significant progress on containing it,” the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) said in an update on Monday.

Winefred Lake is split by the boundary shared by RMWB and Lac La Biche County, and located near the Alberta-Saskatchewan boundary.

Because RMWB does not anticipate the fire to grow toward Conklin, a community of about 150 northwest of Winefred Lake, the municipality on Monday lifted its evacuation alert for Conklin.

Lac La Biche County also downgraded its June 4 evacuation order for Winefred Lake and Grist Lake to an evacuation alert, meaning residents need to remain ready to leave on short notice.

The Caribou Lake Wildfire is 668 square kilometres.