FIRE HAZARD INCREASING IN THE AREA
Due to the recent warming trend, the wildfire hazard has increased to MODERATE in the Peace River area. As the snow continues to melt away, exposing the dried grasses from last year, the hazard level will continue to increase quickly until the new grass comes up and everything turns green. Dried grasses are the most flammable of forest fuels and fires spread dangerously quickly and hot especially in strong wind conditions. Winds are expected to be 25 kms with gusts up to 40 km/hr tomorrow.
HAZARD REDUCTION BURNING HAS COMMENCED
In order to reduce the dry grass hazard near and within communities ESRD is working with numerous fire departments and wildland fire crews to do some hazard reduction burning in Cadotte Lake, Little Buffalo, Paddle Prairie and the Town of Peace River this week. Hazard reduction burning consists of burning away the tall dry grasses near areas of risk in a controlled manner to prevent an accidental and unplanned fire from occuring in these areas. Each of these burns is conducted by trained professionals and will be completely extinguished before they leave the site.
PRESCRIBED FIRES TENTATIVELY PLANNED FOR IGNITION NEXT WEEK
Two prescribed fires have been planned for the Peace River Wildfire Management Area over the next few weeks; the Hutton Creek 1 Prescribed Fire and the Deadwood Prescribed Fire. If conditions permit, these burns may be ignited as early as next week. The intention behind both burns is to increase the winter food source and habitat for moose, deer and elk along the river valleys. These fires are a continuation of a series of similar burns in the same area and each of these sites has successfully been burned in previous years. Over the last couple of weeks, wildfire crews have been working to prepare the sites and ensure that a fire guard is prepared for the ignition day. Current plans are to light the burns some time next week if conditions permit. All necessary safety precautions will be taken and the burns will ONLY be lit if the safety of all personnel and stakeholders can be guaranteed and if the burning objectives can be met. Efforts will be made to minimize the effect of smoke on residents in the area. If you would like more information, please click here.
BEFORE YOU BURN IT, GET YOUR PERMIT
Albertans in the forested areas need to get a fire permit for any burning, excluding campfires. Fire permits are free and you can get more information or request a fire permit by calling the Peace River ESRD office at 780-624-6190. Please call a week in advance of when you would like to burn in order to give our staff time to make arrangements to come out to your site and issue your permit. In order to further ease the process, please have your site ready according to the burning site guidelines. before staff arrive. All permits must be completely extinguished before they expire, so if you need an extention, please make sure to call in for one well before your permit expires.
Thank you for doing your part to prevent wildfires.
ALBERTA'S WILDFIRE INFORMATION HAS GONE MOBILE!
Download the free Alberta Wildfire app for any Apple product from the iTunes store.
Using the app, you’ll see where current wildfires are in Alberta’s forests, read area wildfire updates, chat with us on Facebook and Twitter, connect to Alberta Fire Bans and even report a wildfire—straight from the app.
You can also follow us on twitter and facebook.
To report wildfires, call 310-FIRE.
For more information, please contact:
Crystal Burrows - Information Officer
office 780.624.7142
cell 780.618.6215