Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village Saved by Vegetation Fire
On April 18, 2025, a fire that broke east of Edmonton (Canada) has reached the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, causing damage to several structures, although all of the historic buildings were spared.
The village is an open-air museum that depicts the life of early settlers and Ukrainian culture. It contains dozens of historic buildings, which firefighters were able to protect.
The event that highlighted the threat posed by fires that spread from surrounding vegetation, particularly in areas of built heritage, has been described as a grassfire. It broke out near Elk Island National Park, about 50 kilometres east of Edmonton.
The fire quickly spread, jumping Highway 16 and closing it for several hours. Dry weather conditions and strong winds contributed to the rapid spread and prevented the use of air support. Several structures within the village were destroyed or damaged.
The guesthouse and bathrooms were completely burned, with one building reduced to rubble. These damaged or lost buildings were administrative and operational facilities, not historic ones. The loss affected buildings contained exhibits and “many irreplaceable artifacts” that told the story of Alberta’s Ukrainians.
Lamont County emergency services responded to the fire around 4 p.m.and requested mutual aid from Strathcona County. Multiple crews were dispatched to the scene.
About 30 firefighters participated in putting out the blaze. Despite the challenging conditions, described as “pretty astronomical environmental issues,” firefighters worked to contain the blaze.
Local farmers also used their equipment to help douse the flames once they crossed the highway. Alberta Wildfire was not requested because the fire was outside their provincial forest protection area.
The fire was declared under control the same day, around 9:45 p.m. .
The preventive evacuation order for five families was lifted and the highway was reopened to traffic. Crews were still monitoring hot spots in the village and on the prairie where the fire started Saturday morning.
This incident highlights the ongoing challenge of protecting heritage, particularly structures not built with fire-retardant materials, in the face of the growing threat of wildfires, exacerbated by environmental conditions.
The firefighters’ ability to save the collection of historic buildings in this case was crucial to the Ukrainian community in Alberta, which sees the village as a pillar of its identity and a tangible link to its history. Fundraising for the reconstruction of the guesthouse has been launched, with details available at uccab.ca
Lamont County and Elk Island National Park are under fire restrictions, but the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
