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Residents of Prairie Creek can return home

(Photo: Smoke from a  fire burning near Gregoire on May. 2, 2016. Nicole Baggio / PRODUCER. Copyright Rogers Media)

The mandatory evacuation for Prairie Creek residents has officially been lifted and changed to voluntary shelter in place, meaning residence can return to their homes tonight. Gregoire is also still under the voluntary shelter in place.

Unfortunately, residents of the Centennial Trailer Park are still under mandatory evacuation.

Firefighters and air crews have managed to hold the fire 1.2 kilometres away from Highway 63 and Airport Road. “The south west corner of the fire is the most active and it is burning in a south west direction, away from Fort McMurray,” said Bernie Schmitte of Alberta Forestry.

Alberta Agriculture and Forestry will have heavy equipment working on the ground if it is safe to do so. They will be working to construct a firebreak, between the tip of the fire and Highway 63.

The RMWB has updated all electronic message boards in Fort McMurray to say “no ATVs or OHVs on back country trails.”

“Today we had a report from one of the bombers flying over, there was a jeep right along the side of where the fire was burning, so someone had driven in on the trail which by the way is completely crazy, but it impacts our ability to continue,” said Fire Chief Darby Allen.

The Municipality has also barricaded the entrance to the cell tower of the southwest corner of Abasand and the trails at the staging area of Abasand.

As firefighters and crews work to control fire events around Fort McMurray, residents are advised not to operate ATV and OHV vehicles as a precaution to ensure that crews have plenty of room to perform their tasks and keep residents safe.

“It has been a great day for us, I say great with all due respect,” Allen added.

Extreme fire conditions are predicted, once again for tomorrow.