Wildfire prompts evacuation order for Winefred Lake near Conklin

A view of a smoke plume coming off of the Caribou Lake Wildfire, near Winefred Lake, on June 3, 2025 (Photo: Alberta Wildfire)

A mandatory evacuation order was issued in Lac la Biche County on Wednesday due to an out-of-control wildfire.

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The order was issued at 3:18 p.m. for Winefred Lake and Grist Lake, affecting about 50 people, according to the county’s general manager of protective services. Everyone in the area was told to leave immediately. Anyone needing more information can call 780-623-6767.

Winefred Lake is 35 kilometres southeast of Conklin. The Caribou Lake wildfire, which prompted the evacuation, was burning alongside the west shore of the Lake and covered 62,768 hectares at the time of the order.

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That fire was caused by human activity, according to the Alberta Wildfire dashboard, and started on May 26 in the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range.

Wildfire danger was “extreme” across the Lac la Biche and neighbouring Wood Buffalo forest protection areas, due to hot, dry, windy conditions.

A wildfire alert was issued for Conklin on May 29 due to the risk that the fire could spread toward that community. That alert remained in effect Wednesday, with the fire burning 17 kilometres southeast of the community.