The fire danger rating Area is EXTREME for most of the Lac La Biche Forest Protection Area.
Wednesday the weather forecast calls for a temperature of 31 degrees and 25 percent humidity creating crossover conditions. This type of weather is conducive to new fire starts that can progress rapidly. Drought conditions continue to build in the Forest Area, and due to the lightning received over the last few days we expect additional wildfire starts. We ask that you respect the Fire Restriction that is in effect in the Lac La Biche Forest Area.
Please report wildfires immediately by calling 310-FIRE or #FIRE on your cell phone.
Wildfire Situation
As of 7:15 p.m., there were 11 wildfires burning in the Lac La Biche Forest Area. In total, 1 fire is out of control, 3 are being held and 7 are under control.
Fires LWF132, LWF133 and LWF134 are all in the Bovine area, south of Grand Rapids. As these fires are all under control, no resources have been assigned to them today. Wildfire resources are allocated according to priorities such as risk to human life, communities, watersheds and soils, natural resources and infrastructure. These fires will be reassessed in coming days.
Fire LWF132 was discovered July 10 and was lightning caused. It is under control at 0.8 hectare.
Fire LWF133 was discovered July 10 and was lightning caused. It is under control at 1 hectare.
Fire LWF134 was discovered July 10 and was lightning caused. It is under control at 0.01 hectare.
Fires LWF129, LWF154 and LWF155 are all in the northeast corner of the Lac La Biche Forest Area and in varying distances from the community of Janvier. Currently, the community is not threatened by any of these fires.
Fire LWF129 was discovered July 2 and was lightning caused. It is now under control at 372 hectares. There are currently 32 firefighters, 5 management staff and 4 helicopters working to suppress the fire.
Fire LWF154 was discovered yesterday and was lightning caused. It is now being held at 7.15 hectares. There are currently 11 firefighters, 2 management staff and 2 helicopters working to suppress the fire. The fire is west of, and in proximity to, Highway 881 and the railway. It is also in close proximity to industry infrastructure. The observed fire behaviour today was calm.
Fire LWF155 was discovered today, and its cause is under investigation. It is now being held at 0.03 hectare. There are currently 4 firefighters and 2 helicopters working to suppress the fire.
Fires LWF140 and LWF146 are both located within the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range. As these fires are all under control, no resources have been assigned to them today. Wildfire resources are allocated according to priorities such as risk to human life, communities, watersheds and soils, natural resources and infrastructure. These fires will be reassessed in coming days.
Fire LWF140 was discovered July 10 and was lightning caused. It is under control at 0.1 hectare.
Fire LWF146 was discovered yesterday and was lightning caused. It is under control at 3 hectares.
Fire LWF147 was discovered July 11 and was lightning caused. It is being held at 5 hectares. It is located approximately 2 kilometres west of Highway 63 in the Wandering River area. There are currently 16 firefighters, 1 management staff and 1 helicopter working to suppress the fire. A fire break, known as a dozer guard, has been created around 100 percent of the fire.
Fire LWF152 was discovered yesterday and was lightning caused. It is out of control and grew to 80 hectares today. It is located approximately less than a kilometre west of Highway 63 in the House River area. Although the fire has not reached the highway, smoke could impact the area. There are currently 16 firefighters, 2 management staff, 6 pieces of heavy equipment, 3 helicopters, and air tankers working to contain the fire. A fire break, known as a dozer guard, has been created around 30 percent of the fire, and work will continue tonight.
Fire LWF153 was discovered yesterday and was lightning caused. It is under control at 0.24 hectare. As this fire is under control, no resources have been assigned to it today. It will be reassessed in coming days.
To view the wildfires on a map, download the new AB Wildfire Status App.
A FIRE RESTRICTION remains in place for the Lac La Biche Forest Area due to hot and dry conditions, which are increasing the fire danger.
Under this restriction:
- Existing fire permits are suspended;
- All outdoor fires presently burning under permit must be extinguished, unless approved to continue by a Forest Officer;
- Safe wood campfires within fire rings in campgrounds and backyard fire pits are allowed.
Prohibited:
- Wood campfires on public land
- Fireworks and exploding targets
Allowed:
- Wood campfires on private land
- Wood campfires within provincial campgrounds in a designated campfire ring
- Backyard fire pits on private land
- Charcoal briquette barbeques
- Propane or natural gas fueled appliances
- Indoor wood fires
- Open flame oil devices
Remember to check the hot spots on your Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) and remove debris before and after use.
Never leave a campfire unattended. Soak it, stir it and soak it again until cool to the touch to ensure it is extinguished. If you see a wildfire, report it immediately by calling 310-FIRE.
The fire restriction will remain in effect until conditions improve.Provincial Wildfire Situation
As of 10 a.m. July 12, 2021 there were 80 active wildfires in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta (FPA). Six of these wildfires are out of control, 36 are being held, 37 are under control, and 1 has been turned over to the responsible party.
Since March 1, there have been 847 wildfires in the FPA, burning a total of 18,275 ha.
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OHV Safety
If you are operating an off-highway vehicle, remember to stop often and check your hotspots.
An off-highway vehicle exhaust can reach temperatures of over 200 Celsius, causing debris caught near the exhaust to become superheated. This debris can potentially start a wildfire when it falls to the ground.
New Alberta Wildfire App
Download the new Alberta Wildfire app today and get access to accurate, real-time information on wildfires in your area. You can also find information on fire advisories, restrictions and bans across the province and much more.
Available for Apple and Android.
Campfire Safety
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We urge everyone to use caution when working and recreating outdoors. Never leave your campfire unattended. Before leaving, be sure to soak your campfire, stir it and soak it again.
For more information between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., please contact:
Melanie Morin
Wildfire Information Officer
780-623-5272
Related Information
Websites:
- Alberta Wildfire
- Alberta Fire Bans
- FireSmart in Alberta
- Alberta Emergency Alerts
- Air Quality Health Index
- Wildfire Smoke and Your Health
- 511 Road Reports
- Emergency Preparation
Social Media:
