FIRE BAN IN EFFECT

Due to the warm, dry conditions and dry surface fuels, the Peace River Wildfire Management Area has upgraded the Fire Restriction up to a FIRE BAN.  

The full fire ban prohibits all open fires, including campfires in campgrounds or backcountry and random camping areas. This includes charcoal briquettes. Portable propane fire pits and gas or propane stoves and barbeques designed for cooking or heating are allowed. All fire permits are suspended or cancelled and no new fire permits will be issued.

The fire ban applies to 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.  If your municipality is not included, please also check their website and social media pages.

Wildfire Hazard

The wildfire hazard is now EXTREME.  While there is a cold front coming through and some rain may fall, the cold front will also bring strong winds and lightning.  With the fire hazard as high as it is, this will create challenges for firefighters battling any wildfires in the area.  It is very important to prevent wildfires while the conditions are so extreme and equally important for firefighters to get to them while they are still small.  Residents and visitors to the Peace River Wildfire Management Area are urged to call 310-FIRE immediately to report a wildfire.

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 50 wildfires in the Peace River Wildfire Management Area this fire season, 7 of which were discovered earlier this afternoon.  

Active wildfires in the area current as of 4 pm today:

• 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 has been turned over the landowner.  
• PWF 045 and 046 are under control at 0.01 hectares.
• PWF 047 is being held at 0.30 hectares
• PWF 048 is out of control at 4.0 hectares.
• PWF 049 is out of control at 0.1 hectares
• PWF 050 is under control at 1 hectare

Firefighters are working very hard to get each of these wildfires under control as quickly as possible.

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

Provincial Wildfires

Provincially, there are 49 wildfires currently burning, the largest of which are in the Slave Lake, Edson, High Level and Lac La Biche Wildfire Management Areas.  sPlease 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. Once the fire ban has lifted 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.