Wildfire east of Edmonton shut down portion of Henday, Highway 16: RCMP
Cause of fire under investigation, police say
A wildfire just east of Edmonton forced police to briefly shut down a portion of Edmonton's Anthony Henday highway to all traffic Saturday afternoon, according to Strathcona County RCMP.
The fire, which RCMP learned about shortly before 12:30 p.m. MT, started near the highway, between Edmonton and Sherwood Park, police said.
In an update sent around 3:15 p.m., RCMP said the fire was deemed under control.
RCMP had initially closed the Henday — and most connecting roads and highways — to all traffic, between Baseline and Wye roads.
Strong winds helped spread the flames rapidly, and police soon extended the shutdown further north to Highway 16.
Police had advised that part of Highway 16 was expected to close, and suggested further road closures could come.
But crews were able to contain the fire, allowing the highways to reopen to traffic, police said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.