Evacuation Re-Entry

Water contaminated by fire retardant is not considered harmful but may taste salty. Out of an abundance of caution, livestock should not drink water or graze in an area where retardant is visible. If feasible, restrict livestock access to affected areas until rain has diluted retardant residues. Although no known adverse effects have been reported, monitor animals for any unusual behavior.

Retardant is primarily composed of diluted ammonium phosphate, which is a type of fertilizer. If retardant is present on crops or plants intended for consumption, wash them with clear water to remove the residue. Rainfall is the most effective way to dilute any remaining retardant on plants or soil. Be aware that the salty nature of the retardant can increase soil salinity. If your farm is certified organic, contact your local certification body to discuss potential impacts.

Waste Permit Passes issued to County residents will provide access the Roseridge Landfill or the Redwater Transfer Station for resident disposal. 

• Residents may use their Waste Permit Passes to dispose of wildfire waste. 
• Sturgeon County Landowners are provided a permit to dispose of up to 8,000 kg of domestic waste a year at no charge. 
• If passes if are misplaced please contact the Utility & Waste Management Services Department at 780-939-0609. 

Receipts for disposal are available upon request for insurance purposes. 

Hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 9:00AM – 2:00PM

This site is equipped for small volume food waste, but not larger items.

• Empty, non fire damaged fridges and freezers for residents impacted by the fire. These will be transported to Roseridge where Roseridge will take care of the refrigerant removal.
• Smoke damaged items from the household that can be hand-bombed into the 40 yard bins. 
• Large bulky furniture and mattresses need to go to Roseridge. 
• Standard landfill rules apply to non-burnt items

Main Facility Hours:  Monday to Saturday, 9:00AM – 4:45PM
Transfer Station Hours:  Wednesday to Saturday, 9:00AM – 2:00PM

If residents say they are affected by the wildfire, they can dump perishables (such as expired food) can be disposed of along with other garbage.

Anyone who needs a receipt for insurance purposes has to take their waste to Roseridge Waste Management.

• Mixed loads of fire debris, ash, soil, fire damaged appliances on appointment basis
• Segregated burned trees and branches
• Fire damaged household hazardous waste
• Sealed, full non fire damaged fridges and freezers delivered either by a contractor or residents. 
  • We can’t provide assistance in unloading from residential vehicles.
  • Roseridge will receive these units up in a designated location in the landfill where Roseridge will remove the refrigerant and empty the content for immediate burial.

• If residents are keeping their fridge or freezer, they should clean, disinfect, and deodorize their fridge and freezer once they have discarded the spoiled food. To do this, residents will: 
  • Unplug the fridge and freezer. 
  • Rinse or blow out the coils and compressors on the fridge and freezer. 
  • Clean the inside using soap and water, then rinse with clean water. 
  • Sanitize the inside with a bleach/water mixture made by mixing 1 teaspoon of ordinary household bleach for every 4 cups of water. 
  • Leave the doors open to help them dry out. 
  • Reconnect the power once the appliance is dry. 
  • Wait until the inside temperature of your fridge has reached 4°C before restocking it with food. 
  • Wait until your freezer temperature is at -18°C before restocking it with food. 

Cisterns are watertight containers used to protect and store drinking water. However, sometimes the water from a cistern may not be safe to drink. If this happens, you need to fix the problem and then clean and disinfect the cistern so it’s safe to use again. 

The following problems could allow germs to get into a cistern and contaminate the water: 

• Damage to cistern parts such as collars, lids, fill ports, or screened vents. 
• Damage to the structure of the cistern. 
• Overland flooding that introduces contaminants. 

After identifying the problem, you need to fix it before you clean and disinfect the cistern. 

When to Test Your Water 
It’s recommended to test the water in a cistern at the following times: 

• Twice a year for routine monitoring (e.g., once in the spring and once in the fall). 
• Whenever the water quality changes (e.g., it looks, smells, or tastes different than usual). 
• Right after the cistern has been disinfected. 

If you know the water is contaminated (e.g., you see rodents in the cistern), clean and disinfect it right away. You don’t need to test the water first. 

The Provincial Laboratory for Public Health tests private drinking-water systems for bacteria. The lab can’t test water for every type of harmful germ, but they test for two common types of bacteria that could make you sick: 

• Total coliforms: A group of bacteria found naturally in soil, on plants, and in lake and river water. 
• E. coli: Bacteria found in the bowels and stool (feces) of people and animals. 

1. Drain the Cistern: Completely drain the cistern of any remaining water. 
2. Inspect and Repair: Inspect the cistern for any damage and repair it as necessary. 
3. Remove Debris: Remove any debris, sediment, or organic material from the cistern. 
4. Clean the Interior: 
   • Scrub the interior surfaces with a mixture of soap and water. 
   • Rinse thoroughly with clean water. 
5. Disinfect the Cistern: 
   • Prepare a bleach solution by mixing 1 cup of household bleach (5.25% sodium hypochlorite) with 10 gallons of water. 
   • Use a pump or sprayer to apply the bleach solution to all interior surfaces of the cistern. 
   • Allow the solution to sit for at least 6 hours, ensuring all surfaces remain wet. 
6. Rinse the Cistern: After disinfection, rinse the cistern thoroughly with clean water to remove any residual bleach. 
7. Refill and Test: Refill the cistern with clean water and test the water for safety before use. 

Follow the instructions that come with your sample bottle. When you collect a water sample, do not: 

• Open the sample bottle until you’re ready to collect your sample. 
• Rinse the sample bottle. 
• Let water overflow or splash down the side of the bottle. 
• Put the bottle cap on a countertop (it can get contaminated). 
• Touch the inside of the cap, mouth, or neck of the bottle. 
• Collect samples from a garden hose, outside tap, or other places that might be dirty. 

When testing for bacteria, your sample needs to be as fresh as possible. Collect the water sample, put it in a cooler filled with ice packs, and take it to the drop-off location right away. This is important because if your water sample is more than 24 hours old, the Public Health Laboratory (ProvLab) will not test it. 

Before collecting your sample, find out what day and time you can return your sample to your water sample bottle drop-off location. 

You can drop off and pick up your water samples at the following locations: 

1. Gibbons Community Health Centre 

• Phone: 780-342-2660 ext 3 
• Address: 4720 50 Avenue, Gibbons, Alberta T0A 1N0 
• Hours of Drop-off: Monday to Wednesday before 10am 

2. Redwater Health Centre 

• Phone: 780-942-3932 
• Address: 4812 58 Street, Redwater, Alberta T0A 2W0 
• Hours of Drop-off: Tuesday to Wednesday before 9:30am 

If the results show that your water might not be safe, a public health inspector will call you. Make sure the daytime phone number you put on the requisition form is the best number to reach you. A public health inspector will only call you if your sample is unsafe or was not processed by the lab. 

• Bacteria Test: It takes 2 to 3 days for your water sample to get tested. A public health inspector will only call you if your sample is unsafe or was not processed by the lab. If you do not get a call from a public health inspector within 4 days of dropping off your sample, your bacteria test showed an absent/nil result for total coliforms and E. coli. 
• Chemical and Trace Metals Test: It takes 6 to 8 weeks for your water sample to get tested. Environmental Public Health will send you the results after this. 

By following these guidelines, rural residents can ensure their cisterns are clean and safe for storing drinking water after returning home from a wildfire evacuation. If you need any more details or assistance with water sampling information please contact Alberta Health Services (AHS) 1-833-476-4743. 

Power companies are still working in the previous evacuation area today (May 14, 2025). We are aware of two remaining downed lines near impacted properties for which repair plans are in place.

Always consider a downed power line to be energized and remain at least 7-metres away. Do not touch or attempt to move the line yourself.

If you find a downed line or damaged power pole that looks unstable, please immediately contact 310-WIRE to report the location.