Lac La Biche Area Update

 

A Fire Ban and Off-Highway Vehicle Restriction has been issued in the Forest Protection Area for most of northern Alberta beginning at the southern border of Big Lakes County, the hamlet of Lac La Biche and the town of Peace River, extending north to the border of Wood Buffalo National Park and Northwest Territories.

 

All fire permits are suspended and no new fire permits will be issued.

 

Prohibited

• All open fires including campfires in campgrounds, backcountry and random camping areas and backyard fire pits.

• Charcoal briquettes, turkey fryers and tiki torches.

• Fireworks and exploding targets.

• The use of off-highway vehicles for recreational use on all public lands.

 

Allowed

• Portable propane fire pits that are CSA approved or UL certified.

• Gas or propane stoves and barbecues that are CSA approved or UL certified and are designed for cooking or heating.

• Catalytic or infrared-style heaters.

 

The Fire Ban and Off-Highway Vehicle Restriction will remain in effect until conditions improve. Visit albertafirebans.ca for more information or download the new Alberta Fire Bans app.

 

There were two new wildfires today.  One has been turned over to the landowner to extinguish and the other has been extinguished.

Since March 1st, there have been 129 wildfires in the Lac La Biche Forest Area. 

There are currently five other active wildfires in the Lac La Biche Forest Area. Of the five wildfires, two are classified as out of control, two are under control and one is being held.   LWF-116 downgraded status from out of control to being held at 5pm today.

Rock Island Lake Complex (LWF-099 and LWF-119)

There are 118 firefighters, 39 incident management staff, 14 helicopters and 9 pieces of heavy equipment working on this fire, as well as airtankers.

LWF-099 - This wildfire started May 21, and is located just over 6 km east of Rock Island Lake. It is classified as out of control at approximately 8100 hectares is 10 per cent contained. The wildfire remains 32 km south of Sandy Lake and 24 km east of Calling Lake. The wildfire grew 100 ha on the south east portion today. Firefighters searched for smouldering ground fires on the north and west perimeters, while 6 helicopters used buckets to contain the south perimeter. 9 pieces of heavy equipment built fire guard but had to stop during the afternoon period due to the fire growth.

LWF-119 - This wildfire started May 23, and remains approximately 12 km east of LWF-099, along the Athabasca River. The wildfire grew by approximately 850 hectares today, crossing the river and is now on the east side of the Athabasca River, west of McMillan Lake. No communities are at risk. Smoke from the wildfire can be seen by residents of Calling Lake, Sandy Lake and drivers on Highway 63. Until legal down time, 9 airtankers and 7 helicopters will continue to work on containing the wildfire. During the day, firefighters were able to work on the north and west perimeters, looking for smouldering ground fires and extinguishing them. The wildfire remains 50 percent contained, with the potential to grow tomorrow.

The photo below shows a firefighter using water to extinguish smouldering tree roots.  It's important that crews get these fires completely extinguished to prevent them from smouldering and coming back to life in dry, windy conditions.

This photo shows the highly visible smoke from the fire late this afternoon.

Cowper Complex (LWF-121 and LWF-116)