Peace River Area Update

EXTREME Caution Is Advised...

Posted on Tue, May 19, 2015

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WIth the EXTREME wildfire hazard in the area, wildfires will spread very quickly and ignite very easily.  It is EXTREMELY important to do your part to prevent wildfires (more on how to do that under wildfire prevention below) and to report wildfires immediately.  In these conditions, it is very important that firefighting crews arrive at all wildfires while they're still small enough to manage safely. Please help us action wildfires quickly by calling 310-FIRE to report wildfires.

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Fire Advisory

Due to the warm, dry conditions and dry surface fuels, the Peace River Wildfire Management Area has declared a Fire Advisory, effective May 11, 2015.  Caution is recommended. 

Safe campfires are permitted in campgrounds and back country or random camping areas.  Please ensure that your campfire is COMPLETELY extinguished before you leave your site and do not leave it unattended at any time.   

The fire advisory will remain in effect until the fire hazard conditions improve.   For more information about this and other advisories in the province, visit www.albertafirebans.ca

Wildfire Hazard

The wildfire hazard is now EXTREME and is not expected to drop as there is no significant relief in the forecast. Residents and visitors to the Peace River Wildfire Management Area are urged to be very cautious with any burning at this time.

Fire fighting crews, air tankers, helicopters and heavy equipment have been strategically placed throughout the Peace River Wildfire Management Area ready to be quickly dispatched to any wildfire starts.  Our wildfire lookouts and aerial patrol crews will be on the look out for any new wildfire starts, but we need your help too.  PLEASE EXERCISE CAUTION WHEN BURNING OR RECREATING IN THE FOREST AND CALL 310-FIRE TO REPORT WILDFIRES. 

Local Wildfires

There have been 37 wildfires in the Peace River Wildfire Management Area this fire season, all but three of which have now been extinguished.  PWF 030, located east of St Isidore, is now under control at 55 hectares in size and is not expected to spread any further.  The remaining active wildfire in the area has been turned over to the landowner.  THERE ARE NO STRUCTURES OR OTHER VALUES AT RISK AT THIS TIME.

Over the next couple of days, there will be a risk of more lightning fires popping up as the temperatures increase and the vegetation in the area continues to dry. 

Wildfire Prevention

With the very high fire hazard and dry forest vegetation in the area, many recreational activities have the potential to ignite a wildfire. It is extremely important that extra caution is taken while recreating this long weekend. Please remember to get a fire permit before you burnensure that your campfire is COMPLETELY extinguished before you leave your site and check your ATV for dry debris that may be heating up on the hot parts of your machine.  Most importantly, call 310-FIRE IMMEDIATELY to report a wildfire. In these conditions, it is important to get fire fighting resources to all wildfires as soon as possible.

Please click on the links above for more information on how YOU can prevent wildfires.

 

Remember to help us action wildfires quickly by calling 310-FIRE to report a wildfire.

For more information:

CRYSTAL BURROWS - Information Officer
c: 780.618.6215   o: 780.624.7142
crystal.burrows@gov.ab.ca

or visit us on FacebookTwitter or download our Alberta Wildfire App for android and apple products