Due to the high to extreme fire hazard throughout the province, Alberta has requested support from our partner agencies across Canada.  As a result, 126 Ontario wildland firefighters arrived in Alberta earlier today, 31 of which were dispatched here to the Peace River Wildfire Management Area.  Pictured above, two Ontario HAC crews test out their Mark III pumps to ensure they are functioning well so they can be ready to go when dispatched to a wildfire.

FIRE RESTRICTION

Due to the warm, dry conditions and dry surface fuels, the Peace River Wildfire Management Area has upgraded the Fire Advisory up to a FIRE RESTRICTION.  A number of the municipalities in the area have also instituted a fire restriction or fire ban.  Please check www.albertafirebans.ca  for more information.  If your municipality is not included, please also check their website and social media pages.

Effective May 21 at noon, restrictions will apply to various types of burning activities in much of northwest Alberta.  Please check albertafirebans.ca daily for detailed information about the restriction and locations.

Restrictions, prohibitions and allowed fire activities include:

Restricted Fires

No open fires or wood campfires are allowed in backcountry or random camping areas. Restricted activities also include charcoal briquettes, turkey fryers and tiki torches.

Fire permits 

Current fire permits will be suspended or cancelled and new fire permits will not be issued.

Allowed in campgrounds 

Safe wood campfires within fire rings, portable propane fire pits, gas or propane stoves and barbecues (not charcoal briquettes) designed for cooking or heating.

Allowed in backcountry and random camping areas 

Portable propane fire pits, gas or propane stoves and barbecues (not charcoal briquettes) designed for cooking or heating, catalytic or infrared-style heaters.

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 41 wildfires in the Peace River Wildfire Management Area this fire season, all but two of which have now been extinguished.  PWF 030, located east of St Isidore, remains under control at 55 hectares in size and is not expected to spread any further.  PWF 041 was discovered late last night and has been turned over the landowner.  

THERE ARE NO STRUCTURES OR OTHER VALUES AT RISK AT THIS TIME.

Provincial Wildfires

Provincially, there are 29 wildfires currently burning, the largest of which are in the Slave Lake, Edson, High Level and Lac La Biche Wildfire Management Areas.  Please 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.

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. Please remember to get a fire permit before you burn, ensure 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.