Lac La Biche Area Update

The wildfire danger is EXTREME for the Lac La Biche Forest Area.

The forecast for tomorrow is for a high of 21 degrees with humidity of 25%, no precipitation and winds at NE20 km/hr.  Conditions remain hot and dry.  Although the leaves are starting to come out, there is still standing dry grass and trees that are very flammable and easily ignited.  The fires that we've been fighting over the past week have been burning very hot and travelling quickly in the grass and in the trees.

The FIRE ADVISORY remains in effect.  It's likely this will change before the long weekend if conditions remain hot and dry.

We had 4 new wildfires today - 3 in Janvier and one near Whitesands.  We continue to support three wildfires outside the Forest Protection Area.  We were able to respond to a request for assistance from Saskatchewan this afternoon, dispatching our four Fire Boss skimmer planes and their bird dog to a fire directly east of Cold Lake. 

Wildfires start from things you might not be thinking about - welding sparks, grinding sparks, sparks off wheel bearings, etc.  With the conditions as dry as they are, one spark in the grass can start a wildfire, and with the winds, that wildfire will spread before you can do much about it. Keep grass cut short, mow around buildings, plow or disc around yard sites to make a fire break.  A little prevention goes a long way.

You're not going to believe this, but ten cases of water went missing yesterday from a staging area where one of our crews left some of their supplies while they went off to work on the fire near Pine Meadow outside of Cold Lake.  Imagine working all day in the heat, hauling hoses and pumps, with an axe and a shovel, and getting back to find your water was gone!  If you saw anyone with ten cases of water yesterday...

Pictured below is the thirsty crew whose water mysteriously disappeared yesterday.  Eight guys and only a few water bottles!  Sorry guys! You deserved better than that after a long, dry day.