The wildfire hazard for the Lac La Biche area is MODERATE. Some places have received rain, but not a lot of rain, and some places haven't received anything! Cooler temperatures and humidity have helped lower the hazard to moderate, but the forecast for the coming week means the hazard will be increasing. Continue to be diligent in the forest - clean your quads and put your campfires out!
The forecast for tomorrow is for a high of 23 degrees, humidity of 45%, and northwest winds at 10 km/hr. There is a high chance of lightning again tomorrow.
We had one new fire this weekend. The fire is under control at about 9 hectares and is in the Janvier area. Crews and the airtankers worked on this fire yesterday afternoon, quickly bringing it under control.
Crews continue to mop up the larger fires from last month. Burnt Lake fire, started one month ago today. Several crews continue to work on this fire, patroling for hotspots and flare ups revealed by infrared scanning. The same process is being followed for the Pony Creek Complex fires.
The crew below is riding in a Hagglund - it's a people mover designed to transport our crews over rough terrain to the trouble spots within the fire. This all-female crew is led by Maria (yellow shirt) from Alberta, and supported by a team from Ontario (orange shirts).
We have 16 crews, 3 helicopters and the airtankers on hand to fight any new fires.
We are on the lookout for smoke or fire in the forest caused by holdover lighting fires. The lighting map for the area is peppered with strikes. The charge from a lighting strike can stay in the ground for several days, emerging when the conditions are right. As the temperatures increase this week, and the winds dry out the surface fuels like grass, it's likely some holdover lighting fires will ignite.
If you see smoke or fire in the forest, please call 310-FIRE (3473).
Thanks for doing your part to prevent wildfire.
Your next update will be on Thursday, June 25, unless conditions change in the meantime.
For more information, please call:
Leslie Lozinski
Forest Information Officer
780-623-9758