The wildfire danger is MODERATE for the Lac La Biche forest area for the weekend of June 9-10.
The FIRE ADVISORY has been lifted for the Lac La Biche forest area. We are issuing wildfire permits, and you may have safe, small cooking and warming fires. Remember to follow the conditions on the back of your fire permits. No burning when winds exceed 15 km/hr.
The forecast for the weekend is for temperatures in the upper 20s on Saturday, moderate humidity, chance of thundershowers overnight and light winds. Sunday is also unstable.
Wildfire Situation Update 5:00 p.m., June 8
There are currently four active wildfires in the Lac La Biche Forest Area. Of the four wildfires, one is BEING HELD, and three are UNDER CONTROL. LWF-099 was downgraded to UNDER CONTROL this morning. LWF-116 and LWF-121 are being patrolled, and reclamation work is in progress on LWF-121 near Janvier.
Rock Island Lake Complex (LWF-099 and LWF-119).
Out of Province wildfire crews are starting to leave this complex. Thanks for the help! Remaining crews are working on the perimeter of both fires, extinguishing all hotspots and smouldering spots up to 100 feet in from the edge of the fire. Helicopters are supporting the crews, working on flare ups and hot spots within the fire perimeters.
LWF-099 – Classified as UNDER CONTROL at approx. 8,600 hectares in size.
The wildfire was downgraded to UNDER CONTROL this morning. Crews made excellent progress yesterday and the wildfire is now 100% contained. This means crews have been successful in extinguishing fire within 100 feet of the perimeter of the fire, all the way around the fire boundary. The wildfire started May 21, 2018 and remains 10 km east of Secondary Highway 813, and 14 km north of the hamlet of Calling Lake. The community is not under threat.
LWF-119 – Classified as being held at approx. 5,400 hectares.
The wildfire is BEING HELD, meaning it is not expected to grow past its current boundaries. Crews made solid progress on this fire today and it is now 70% contained. Progress is a bit slower on this fire due to the arduous working conditions. Helicopters with buckets are working to extinguish flareups and hotspots that could potentially challenge the fire boundary given windy conditions. Crews are working in a grid pattern to extinguish all fire within 100 feet of the perimeter of the wildfire. This wildfire started May 23, 2018, and has not grown in size since May 29, 2018. It is approximately 12 km east of LWF-099, along the east and west sides of the Athabasca River, but is west of McMillan Lake. No communities are at risk.
The photo below shows a firefighter pouring water to a smouldering hotspot. The hose you see will be strung out through the forest to a water supply with a pump. On a fire the size of LWF-099 and LWF-119, the intent is to extinguish everything within 100 feet of the perimeter of the fire.
In addition to the firefighters on the above wildfires, we have 8 crews and 3 helicopters ready to action any new wildfires tomorrow.
Unless conditions change, your next wildfire update will be on Monday, June 11, 2018.
Thanks for doing your part to prevent wildfire.
For more information, please contact:
Leslie Lozinski
Wildfire Information Officer
780-623-9758