Alberta Emergency Management Agency

The Alberta premier says her government is striking a committee of senior civil servants to work with Parks Canada and Jasper leaders to swap ideas, expedite development permits and collaborate on ways to restore Jasper as quickly as possible.

Mike Mercredi, a volunteer firefighter from Fort Chipewyan, Alta., says he is among a group of community members on standby who have been setting up sprinklers on neighbourhood streets as crews work to contain the flames north of the hamlet.

Christie Tucker of Alberta Wildfire says the province has never seen this much wildfire activity in recorded history.

Light rainfall and cooler temperatures slowed down wildfire activity in Alberta over the long weekend and more rain that's in the forecast may help firefighters catch a breath during a record-breaking season of fires.

Wildfire officials in Alberta say hot, dry and windy weather has pushed fire conditions even further into the extreme in the province's north this weekend, and the situation in the south is now a growing concern.

Cooler temperatures and a bit of rain were delivering some relief for firefighters as they continued to battle wildfires threatening communities in central northern Alberta, but provincial officials warned the reprieve was only in some areas and lightning was sparking some new blazes.

Joseph Enverga kept hoping the flooding would slow down or even stop as his apartment lights flickered on and off.

Officials say wildfire evacuees in northwestern Alberta should not expect to return until at least next week and that provincial emergency funds for gas, food and other expenses should be available by Monday, May 27, 2019.