Grande Prairie Area Update

Grande Prairie Forest Area update - January 21, 2021

Posted on Thu, Jan 21, 2021

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Wildfire season officially ended October 31 and a permit is not required for burning within the Forest Protection Area (FPA). Albertans living outside the FPA must contact their municipality or local authority for more information about fire permit requirements for winter burning. If you are planning on burning debris this winter it’s important to keep safe burning practices top of mind. Check your burn site multiple times in the following weeks to ensure it has not reignited.

 

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WILDFIRE SEASON SUMMARY

There were 49 wildfires in the Grande Prairie Forest Area during the 2020 fire season, all of which have now been extinguished.  In Alberta, there were 705 wildfires and 3,265 hectares burned.
 
Thank you for doing your part to prevent and report wildfires this and every fire season.  Your support and cooperation is greatly appreciated.
 

2020 WILDFIRE SEASON SUMMARY  

 

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SMOKE

Smoke and smog can occur in the winter, often in communities where wood is used for home heating or residents are burning piles on their land. These pollutants can build up in the local area during cold weather, when there is little wind to disperse the particles. This often occurs during temperature inversions and in valleys and other areas that are sheltered from the wind.

Smoke can impact visibility on roadways and it’s important to follow best practices. Here are some tips to consider when it comes to the risk of smoke from winter burning:
 
  • Refrain from burning when an inversion is in place or is forecasted.
  • Consult local municipalities and authorities on how to mitigate impacts when undertaking larger winter burning projects near communities or roadways.
  • Actively manage burn projects to reduce disposal time and smoke impacts.
  • Burning debris in stages will allow you to adapt to changing weather conditions and reduce smoke.
  • Monitor weather conditions: lower temperatures and lighter wind speeds can result in stronger inversions. The ideal conditions for burning are typically days with average temperatures and wind speeds over 5 km/h.
  • If a roadway has reduced visibility notify Alberta Transportation at 780 644 1851.
Any burning should closely follow our guidelines for Brush Piles and Windrows.  Make sure you have the resources on hand to control the fire at all times. For additional information please contact your local forest area office or visit wildfire.alberta.ca
 
For more information:

Kelly Burke | Wildfire Information Officer

Call or Text (780) 832 7235

kelly.burke@gov.ab.ca

Phone: 1-866-394-3473

 

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