Samson Cree Nation wildfire under control, roads reopen

A fire on the Samson Cree Nation on Friday, April 25, 2025. (Facebook/Maskwacis Fire Department)

A wildfire that shut down roads on the Samson Cree Nation was brought under control Friday evening.

Samson Cree Nation’s Facebook page posted Friday night that the fire was contained by 7:17 p.m., and roads reopened by 9:30 p.m.

Highway 611 near Range Road 242 was closed Friday afternoon while crews battled the blaze.

Fire crews remained on scene overnight, monitoring hot spots.

It said that one house was lost to the fire and an abandoned house burned as well.

Ermineskin Cree Nation lost a number of homes to the fire as well, it added.

An emergency centre has been set up at the Howard Buffalo Memorial Centre for evacuees.

Samson Cree Nation staff and Red Cross personnel are on hand to provide assistance, information is also available at 780-585-3012.

Fire crews from eight different communities helped bring the fire under control, including crews from the Samson Fire Dept., Louis Bull Fire Dept., Ermineskin, Ponoka, Wetaskiwin, Millet, Sam Minde Elements FireTack and Rocky Mountain Wildfire, which provided planes and a helicopter.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Steven Dyer