Lac La Biche Area Update

EXTREME Wildfire Danger: What you need to know

Posted on Sat, May 23, 2015

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The wildfire hazard in the Lac La Biche Wildfire Management Area is EXTREME.

The fire in the Cold Lake Weapons Range, near Burnt Lake, is approximately 3000 hectares.  The latest information on this fire will be released later this morning.  Watch for another update before noon.  The head of the fire is moving in a north west direction, although the fire is active on all fronts.  

Cenovus is evacuating their Foster Creek facilities as a precautionary measure.  Foster Creek is not threatened by wildfire at this point. There is however, only one exit/entrance to Foster Creek and it may be impacted by wildfire or by smoke later today. 

What you need to know for your safety:

The very dry (low humidity), warm weather system over the area for the past 10 days or so has created EXTREME wildfire conditions.  There is a high potential for wildfire due to the build up of surface fuels and dry ground, without the need for winds.  Any wind, shift in wind, or change in wind speed dramatically increases the potential for wildfire.  Fortunately our winds have been light for the past several days.  A wind shift is expected today.  Winds will remain light, but will be switching to E10.  Any winds, including ambient winds from a wildfire, have the potential to start another wildfire or spread an existing wildfire.

Be particularly careful in the forest today.  Don't take any chances.  Adhere to the Fire Advisory and Fire Restrictions, depending on where you are.  We have significant resources working on the Weapons Range fire, and other resources across the area (including a 22 person crew arriving from Ontario today).

We don't need any new wildfires!  Please do your part to prevent wildfire - watch out for yourselves and for our fire fighters.

Thank you.

For more information, please call:

Leslie Lozinski

Forest Information Officer

780-623-9758