Wildfire in northern Alberta destroys 5 homes, county official says

A wildfire is seen burning near Barrhead, Alta., on May 28, 2026. (Bays Timm)

Five homes were destroyed in a northern Alberta wildfire that forced the evacuation of close to 200 properties, a county official says.

Debbie Oyarzun, the chief administrative officer and director of emergency management for Barrhead County, says the situation unfolded fast on Thursday afternoon.

Residents in the Summerlea subdivision were initially ordered to leave shortly before 5 p.m., and the order was expanded about an hour later to include the Thunder Lake subdivision.

Summerlea residents were allowed to return Thursday night, but residents of the Thunder Lake subdivision weren’t permitted to return until late Friday morning.

Oyarzun says 13 properties received varying degrees of damage -- including five homes and a garage that were completely destroyed.

She says the fire is now out, but that staff are still monitoring the scene.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 29, 2026.

The Canadian Press