The wildfire danger for the Grande Prairie Forest Area is now HIGH.

Wildfire Situation

Since March 1, 2021 there have been 31 wildfires burning nearly 54 hectares in the Grande Prairie Forest Area. For more information on the current wildfire situation across the province of Alberta visit wildfirestatus.alberta.ca

A fire advisory remains in effect for the Grande Prairie Forest Area section of the Forest Protection Area due to drying conditions.

Under this advisory:

• Existing fire permits are still valid.

• New permits will be issued on a case-by-case basis, only for essential burning.

Prohibited:

• Any burning without a valid fire permit, other than a campfire.

Never leave a campfire unattended. Soak it, stir it and soak it again until cool to the touch to ensure it is extinguished.

When operating equipment, clear debris from moving parts, check your muffler and keep equipment in good repair. Do not operate equipment in tall grass. Keep watch of your surroundings and ensure you have sufficient firefighting equipment and water available. Equipment fires or work related sparks, friction and hot exhaust can cause even small amounts of dry fuels to ignite into a wildfires and spread easily.

If you see a wildfire, report it immediately by calling 310-FIRE

The fire advisory will remain in effect until conditions improve

Learn about wildfires and what you can do to protect yourself and others

Disasters can happen with little or no warning. If a disaster happened tomorrow, how long could you and your family survive without assistance? During a disaster it may take emergency workers sometime to reach you. You should be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for at least 72 hours.

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Dry grass is a fine and flashy fuel. Because it is so fine, it has a huge surface area and as a result quickly absorbs and loses moisture. During crossover conditions: The point at which the relative humidity is less than, or equal to, the ambient air temperature. Grass will quickly dry out; when grass is dry it ignites easily and with wind fire will spread rapidly.

Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation Hazard Reduction Burning

Alberta Agriculture and Forestry along with the Sturgeon Lake Fire Department is currently conducting a hazard reduction burn in the community of Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation. Spring hazard reduction burning will lessen the risk of man-caused fires and help protect homes and community infrastructure from future wildfires.

Fire permits

During wildfire season, you are required to have a fire permit if you plan on burning in the Forest Protection Area (FPA), with the exception of a campfire. To request your fire permit, contact the local forest area. Burning is not permitted during windy conditions. You can be held responsible if a fire escapes the burn permit area. Anyone living outside the FPA can contact their municipality for information about local fire permit requirements.