The wildfire hazard for tomorrow is VERY HIGH. Temperatures in the mid twenties with humidity of 20%, no precipitation, and strong and gusty winds mean surface fuels like dry grass will present a very high danger from wildfires, and new fires will spread quickly.
Be very careful in the forest tomorrow. If you've been random camping, please take the time to ensure your campfires are extinguished. Soak it, stir it, soak the ashes again. Tomorrow's winds are likely to stir up abandoned campfires and could create wildfires.
Be diligent if you are quadding through dry grass along ditches, powerlines or pipeline clearings tomorrow. Wind-driven wildfires will travel quickly in dry grass along these open areas. Stop frequently, clear your machine's hot spots, and stomp or soak any smouldering debris.
We had 6 new wildfires today which included people burning without a permit as well as abandoned campfires. If you burn without a permit and we see smoke, we will send resources to investigate. This means crews that we might need on a critical wildfire are busy checking on your fire which you probably have under control. Please get a permit for any burning (other than a campfire), and help us make the best use of our resources.
We have 13 crews, 11 helicopters, the air tankers, heavy equipment and water trucks across the area ready to action any new fires tomorrow.
Thanks for being mindful about wildfire during this time of very high hazard. The most helpful thing you can do this holiday weekend is to make sure your campfire is extinguished before you leave it.
For more information, please contact:
Leslie Lozinski
Area Information Co-ordinator
780-623-9758