WILDFIRE HAZARD - EXPECT TO SEE SMOKE IN THE AIR
Warm, windy conditions in the Fort McMurray Wildfire Area will continue to dry the forest, keeping the wildfire hazard at HIGH. The conditions also increase the potential for smoke to emerge within the existing boundaries of the Horse River Wildfire. The smoke will be comming from smouldering ground fires - creating smoke columns that are visible from the city and surrounding areas. These fires do not pose any risk to the city of Fort McMurray. For questions or concerns regarding these fires please call the PULSE line at 780-743-7000.
Firefighters are constantly monitoring the situation and are actively extinguishing any fires that emerge. Thank you for your help with reporting wildfires, if you are within the city of Fort McMurray, call 911, if you are outside of the city, call 310-FIRE. This map gives clarity on what phone number you should call when you see smoke in the forest.
If you have health concerns regarding smoke inhalation from the wildfire, contact Alberta Health Link at by dialing 811 or visit albertahealthservices.ca.
WILDFIRE UPDATE
In the last 24 hours there have been three new wildfires in the Fort McMurray Forest Area that were started by lightning. Thanks to the quick response and hard work of firefighters, two were extinguished.
The third wildfire is located 23 kilometres north of Birch Mountains Wildand Provincial Park, it is BEING HELD at 1.5 hectares in size, no communities are threatened at this time.
Image: Firefighters working on the Horse River Wildfire showing smouldering ground fires in burned areas - these areas are continuing to produce smoke.
HORSE RIVER WILDFIRE UPDATE
Wildfire (MWF009) has experienced no growth and remains OUT OF CONTROL at an estimated 581,956 hectares in size (including SK). Firefighters and heavy equipment have secured approximately 536 kilometres of guard around the perimeter of the fire - it is currently 70 per cent contained. No communties are threatened at this time.
Agriculture and Forestry has 2,082 wildland firefighters and support staff, 80 helicopters, and 169 pieces of heavy equipment working to extinguish this wildfire. Firefighters are searching for hotspots and extinguishing them as they appear. Heavy equipment continue to establish the fire guard and helicopters are dropping water to assist firefighters in extinguishment.
Assisting Alberta Agriculture and Forestry firefighters are firefighters from Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Northwest Territories, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland, Parks Canada, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC), Yukon, the United States and Mexico.
Firefighters, aircraft and heavy equipment are pre-positioned in the Fort McMurray Forest Area and are ready to respond to any new wildfires.
For information about the provincial wildfire situation visit wildfire.alberta.ca.
HELP FIREFIGHTERS DO THEIR JOB....
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 Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Restriction is still in effect for the Fort McMurray Forest Area and incendiary targets are banned. If you must enter forested areas exercise extreme caution and be considerate of the safety of firefighters 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 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.
DRONES AND UAVs ARE NOT ALLOWED OVER ALBERTA WILDFIRES
When you fly a drone or Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (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.
For more information on the Horse Creek Wildfire, you can also call 1-866-916-INFO (4636). The phone line will be update daily at 10:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
BearSmart INFORMATION
For information about the Alberta BearSmart program, visit Alberta BearSmart or see the manual. Any bear concerns can be reported to the 24-hour Report a Poacher line at 1-800-642-3800.
Unless conditions change, your next update will be at 7:00 p.m.
Shannon Stambaugh
Wildfire Information Officer
780-706-5336