The forecast for today is for a high of 22 degrees Celsius, wind gusting up to 40 km/hr in some areas of the Lac La Biche Wildfire Management Area. We are expecting rain or thundershowers this evening. The warm, dry conditions are keeping the wildfire hazard at VERY HIGH. 

We expect the wildfire hazard to continue to climb over the weekend as warmer temperatures and winds dry the forest. For your safety, there is a fire restriction in place.

The fire restriction remains in place for north and central parts of the province's Forest Protection Area (FPA). Other jurisdictions outside the FPA, including municipalities and provincial parks, may issue their own fire restrictions or bans. Please check albertafirebans.ca daily for detailed information about restrictions and locations.

Forest conditions are extremely dry and volatile. We can not control the weather but we can control the start of a wildfire. Please do not do any burning at this time. Your co-operation with the fire restriction helps keep our firefighters free to fight new wildfire starts.

Here are some commonly asked questions about the fire restriction:

Are backyard campfires allowed?
No. Campfires are prohibited on private property (example -backyard fire pit) as well. Wood campfires in backcountry or random camping areas, charcoal briquettes, turkey fryers and tiki torches are restricted as well.

What is allowed in campgrounds?
Safe wood campfires in fire rings, portable propane fire pits, gas or propane stoves and barbeques (not charcoal briquettes) designed for cooking or heating.

What is allowed in backcountry and random camping areas?
Portable propane fire pits, gas or propane stoves and barbeques (not charcoal briquettes) designed for cooking or heating, and catalytic or infrared-style heaters

Are fire permits allowed?
No. All fire permits are suspended or canceled and no new fire permits will be issued until further notice.

What does this mean for industry members? 
A fire restriction means no industrial burning (brush piles, windrows, slash piles). Continue to abide by your Industrial Wildfire Control Plan. Suspend all non-essential flaring at this time. 

Local Wildfires

Both wildfires are experiencing deep burning, smoldering ground fire, which requires long hours of back breaking labor to dig up, stir and soak.  We are using infrared scanners at dawn to find any hotspots that may not be visible to our crews.  It’s important that we extinguish all underground smoldering fires, as winds can stir them up again later on and revive the wildfire.

LWF 122 - Burnt Lake Fire (near Cold Lake)

Status: This wildfire remains classified as out of control and is 31,334 hectares. 

How many firefigthers are working on this fire? There are 290 firefighters fighting this wildfire, including firefighters from Ontario, British Columbia and Parks Canada. As well as 14 aircraft and various pieces of heavy equipment.

Current activity on the fire: firefighters are working on moving from the perimeter to the centre of the wildfire, putting out smoldering ground fires and attacking any open flames as they move. They are using hand tools; helicopters are helping by transporting crew memebers and bucketing when needed. Equipment continues to work on creating a fire gaurd around the permitier.

Some industry employees are able to re-enter the Cold Lake Weapons Range (CLWR) where wildfire is not affecting facilities. Some areas within the wildfire are still restricted for industry staff; contact your respective company to find out your status. 

What is the plan for tomorrow? We will continue working from the perimeter to the interior of the wildfire working towards completely extinguishing the burn.

photo: fire guard being created

LWF 126 - Pony Creek Fire (Northwest of Conklin)

Status: this wildfire is being held at 3,000 hectares, this means we are not expecting it to grow past it current boundaries.

How many firefighters are working on this fire? 190 firefighters as well as 10 helicopters and various pieces of heavy equipment.

Current activity on the fire: crews are searching for hotspots and will extinguish them if found. Air patrols will continue so we can quickly identify and action fire that has started from smoldering ground fires and resurfaced and catching standing trees on fire. Aircraft will support ground crews by bucketing with water as needed.

The Rest of the Area

LWF 135 is just under 2km south east of the Crowe Lake Provincail Park, east of Hwy 63. The wildfire remains under control at 1.70 hectares, 8 firefighters and one helicopter continue to monitor the site and will continue to extinguish any hotspots. 

ASK-001 (Saskatchewan Wildfire - named the David Wildfire) still classified as out of control at 35,150 hectares; 5,555 hectares of that is within Alberta. Our wildfire managers are monitoring the wildfire and are in constant communication with our Saskatchewan counterparts. Saskatchewan firefighters continue to construct fire guards using heavy equipment and crews are working from the perimeter to the centre of the fire to extinguish hotspots.

We have 9 crews, 7 helicopters and various heavy equipment positioned across the area to quickly attack new wildfires if they start.

Provincial Wildfires

Alberta currently has 42 wildfires. Two are out of control, 10 are being held, 28 are under control and two have been turned over to the responsible party. Visit our wildfire status map on our website at www.wildfire.alberta.ca or download the Alberta Wildfire App for more information on what is happening throughout the province.

Your next update will be tomorrow, June 5th unless conditions change.

For more information, please contact:

Shannon Stambaugh | Wildfire Information Officer
On behalf of Leslie Lozinski