Evacuation orders for Wabasca-Desmarais and the hamlets of Sandy Lake and Chipewyan Lake, and all of Bigstone Cree Nation were rescinded June 12 at 10:29 a.m.
According to an advisory message sent through Alberta's Emergency Alert System, the public can now return back to these areas, though they "must be prepared to evacuate on short notice, due to wildfire activity in the area."
"The local public must continue to monitor wildfire activity in their area by checking local websites," it states.
It also states the public in the M.D. of Opportunity must continue to monitor wildfire activity in their area.
It adds Wabasca-Desmarais, the hamlets of Sandy Lake and Chipewyan Lake, and all of Bigstone Cree Nation #166 A,B,C,D, can now return back to these areas, and those returning to these areas remain under an evacuation alert.
According to the Slave Lake Forest Area update June 11 at 9 p.m., the fire danger level has been upgraded again to "Extreme" for the areas north of Lesser Slave Lake and "Very High" to "High" for areas south of it.
The update states the five fires that make up the McMillan Wildfire Complex north of Slave Lake and west and north of Wabasca total 263,969 hectares.
"SWF-049 is 30% contained as of June 10th," it states. "Excellent progress has been made on the east side of the fire, west of Bigstone Cree Nation and Wabasca. Firefighters remain in this area and are working to extinguish all fires well into the fire perimeter."
Speaking in a Facebook video, M.D. of Opportunity Reeve Marcel Auger said there is smoke in the community of Wabasca.
"Distance to the community remains the same — 4.9 kilometres from Reserve B and 3.3 kilometres from Reserve D," he said.
He said the process was set to start at 6 a.m. June 12.
"The threat of wildfire still exists in the hamlets of Wabasca, Sandy Lake, Chip Lake and the Bigstone Cree Nation area," he said. "Therefore, and eight-hour evacuation alert will remain in effect."
He also said the emergency command centre will remain in effect until the alert is lifted; its phone number is 780-891-2659.
He said people should remain prepared with food, full tanks of gas and go-bags including important documentation, medicines and mementos. For pets that were rescued, pet pickups will be done at the Wabasca Arena on Saturday, June 15 from 12-8 p.m. and Sunday, June 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Auger also said at Friday, June 14 at 10 a.m., the M.D. of Opportunity and the Bigstone Cree Nation will be hosting a community meeting at the Lakeview Sports Centre. He added Alberta Agriculture and Forestry will be there to explain fire SWF-049, along with activity and what can be expected in next few days.
