The fire hazard is now HIGH in the Fort McMurray Forest Area.
Warm and windy conditions will continue to dry out fine fuels on the ground such as grass and leaves which can contribute to new starts as well as increased fire activity and smoke. Please do your part to prevent wildfires by respecting the fire ban and OHV restrictions. Stay out of areas where firefighters and crews are working.
There have been two new fires reported this afternoon in the Fort McMurray Forest Protection Area. Crews responded quickly to both fires and they are considered to be under control at this time. Three other fires were started by lightning last night that have all been extinguished.
VISIBLE SMOKE CONCERNS
The warm weather that Fort McMurray is continuing to experience will increase the potential for flare-ups within the existing boundaries of the Horse River Wildfire. These fires are creating the smoke columns that have continued to be visible this afternoon. Aircraft and ground crews are constantly watching for these fires and working to extinguish them as they emerge. These smoke columns and fires pose no threat to the city of Fort McMurray and there is no need to report them.
Smouldering ground fires are present in burned areas and you may see smoke coming from them. Thermal scans are being conducted regularly to identify these spots and firefighters from Alberta Agriculture and Forestry as well as The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo are working hard to extinguish them. These ground fires do not pose a threat to the community and you do not need to report smoke from smouldering ground fires. If you have questions or concerns about smouldering ground fires more information is available through the PULSE line: (780) 743-7000.
Conditions will continue to be smoky in the Forest McMurray Forest Area due to areas of smouldering ground fire which may be aggravated by the warm and dry weather. If you have health concerns, please contact Alberta Health Link at 811 or visit albertahealthservices.ca.
Public activity can impact safety and interfere with firefighting operations that are ongoing in many of the forested areas surrounding Fort McMurray.
Please be aware of the presence of crews. It is for your safety and the safety of firefighters that we ask the public to please stay away from any active firefighting operations as well as areas of burned forest. The OHV restriction is still in effect for the Fort McMurray Forest Protection Area and incendiary targets are banned. If you must enter forested areas exercise extreme caution and be considerate of the safety of fire crews and the importance of the work they are doing.
Be cautious of the following in areas of burned forest:
- burned trees, the roots of burned trees are weakened and can fall without any wind
- smouldering ground fire and hot spots
- firefighters, heavy equipment and aircraft working in the area
FIRE BAN
A fire ban remains in effect for portions of northeastern Alberta and the Fort McMurray Forest Area. The fire ban applies to Alberta’s Forest Protection Area in the Fort McMurray Forest Area and portions of the Lac La Biche Forest Area. The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo also has a fire ban in effect that includes the Urban Service Area of Fort McMurray.
Check albertafirebans.ca for the location of fire bans, restrictions and advisories or call 1-866-FYI-FIRE (394-3473).
Prohibited
- All open fires including; wood campfires, charcoal briquette fires, turkey fryers, and tiki torches
- The use of incendiary targets
Allowed
- Gas or propane stoves/barbeques and portable propane fire pits that are CSA approved and UL certified
- Catalytic or infrared style heaters
OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE (OHV) RESTRICTION
Recreational use of off-highway vehicles (OHV) is restricted on all public lands and provincial parks, including designated OHV trails. The restriction does not apply to agriculture, public safety, commercial/industrial or Indigenous peoples when exercising a right recognized and affirmed under Part II of the Constitution Act, 1982 or a right under section 12 of the Natural Resources Transfer Agreement. The restriction will remain in effect until further notice.
HORSE RIVER FIRE CONNECTION
Wildfire (MWF009) has experienced minimal growth and is estimated to be 581,586 hectares in size (including SK). Firefighters and heavy equipment continue to make steady progress securing approximately 536 kilometres of guard around the perimeter of the fire.
The Horse River Wildfire is currently 70% contained.
Agriculture and Forestry has 2,112 wildland firefighters and support staff, 80 helicopters, and 215 pieces of heavy equipment working to extinguish this fire. Assisting Alberta Agriculture and Forestry firefighters are firefighters from Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Northwest Territories, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland, Parks Canada, Nova Scotia, PEI, Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC), South Africa, Yukon, the U.S. and Mexico.
Firefighters and aircraft are pre-positioned in the Fort McMurray Forest Area and are ready to respond to any new wildfires.
IF YOU'RE IN THE SKY, WE CAN'T FLY
When you fly a drone or UAV over or near an Alberta wildfire, you’re breaking the law and endangering firefighting personnel and may cause firefighting operations to stop.
Before you fly a drone or UAV, make sure you understand the rules that apply and follow them. Not doing so could cost you up to $25,000 in fines and impact firefighting efforts.
For more information, please visit: tc.gc.ca/SafetyFirst
FORT MCMURRAY RE-ENTRY INFORMATION
For details on the voluntary, phased re-entry please see the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo’s website for all the details: www.RMWB.ca.
A recorded message with updates about the Horse River Wildfire can be found at 1-866-916-INFO (4636)
For more information contact: Melinda Paplawski, Wildfire Information Officer, 780-933-1929