WILDFIRE HAZARD
The wildfire hazard for the Fort McMurray Forest Area is HIGH in the northern portions of the area and MODERATE in the southern portions of the area, including the city of Fort McMurray.
SMOKE IN THE AIR
There is the potential for smoke to emerge within the existing boundaries of the Horse River Wildfire. Smouldering ground fires can produce smoke - creating smoke columns that are visible from the city and surrounding areas. These smouldering ground fires do not pose any risk to the city of Fort McMurray. For questions or concerns 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 related to smoke inhalation from a wildfire, contact Alberta Health Link at by dialing 811 or visit albertahealthservices.ca.
Image: Fields of fireweed growing inside the Horse River Wildifre.
WILDFIRE UPDATE
The Horse River Wildfire is the only wildfire in the Fort McMurray Forest Area.
HORSE RIVER WILDFIRE UPDATE
The wildfire (MWF-009) remains classified as OUT OF CONTROL and is estimated at 589,995 hectares in size (including the portion within Saskatchewan). The wildfire is not threatening any communities at this time.
Agriculture and Forestry has 1,106 wildland firefighters and support staff, 54 helicopters, and 155 pieces of heavy equipment are working hard to contain this wildfire. Assisting Alberta Agriculture and Forestry firefighters are firefighters from Northwest Territories, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC), Yukon 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.
Table: Definitions of wildfire status. The Horse River Wildfire is currently classified as Out of Control. Firefighters are working hard to contain it.
For information on the provincial wildfire situation, visit wildfire.alberta.ca.
HELP PREVENT A WILDFIRE
Firefighters need your help preventing wildfires. Do this by following the Fort McMurray fire ban and off-highway vehicle restriction.
Note: 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 more information or call 1-866-FYI-FIRE (394-3473).
Image: Current fire bans in place for the Fort McMurray Forest Area. Read below or visit albertafirebans.ca for more information.
The fire ban applies to all counties, municipal districts and special areas, as well as provincial parks and recreation areas within the Fort McMurray and northern Lac La Biche Forest Areas. The fire ban does not apply to cities, towns, villages, summer villages, or federal lands, such as national parks. See a map here.
Know what is allowed under the ban:
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.
For more information visit albertafirebans.ca
The off-highway vehicle restriction for the Fort McMurray Forest area applies to all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), four-wheel vehicles, motorcycles and related two-wheel vehicles and amphibious machines.
The restriction applies to recreational use on public lands, including designated OHV trails, only. It does not apply to agriculture, public safety or commercial or industrial users who operate OHVs for farming, enforcement or business purposes.
The OHV restriction does not apply to the use of an OHV by 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.
For more information see a map of the area under the OHV restriction or vist alberta.ca\emergency.cfm.
FOR YOUR SAFETY DO NOT ENTER BURNED AREAS
For your safety and the safety of firefighters, please do not enter burned areas or areas where firefighters are working. Keep safe by avoiding:
- Burned trees - trees that have been burned have weakened root systems and can fall without any wind. For your safety stay away from all burned areas.
- Smouldering ground fire and hot spots - these are not safe to walk near.
- Firefighters, heavy equipment and aircraft working in burned areas - they need room to safely do their work.
DRONES AND UAVs DON'T HELP WITH PUTTING OUT A WILDFIRE
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.
INFORMATION ON BEAR AWARENESS
For information about the Alberta BearSmart program, visit Alberta BearSmart or a printable manual is also available. 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 11:00 a.m. June 12, 2016.
Shannon Stambaugh
Wildfire Information Officer
mobile: 780-706-5336
