A number of wildfires popped up after the lightning went through the area yesterday afternoon, challenging our firefighters to keep up.  Many of the fires were actioned and have been extinguished or are now under control.  Three however, remain out of control and firefighting crews, heavy equipment, helicopters and air tankers will be working throughout the day to attempt to contain them.  We will be on the lookout for holdover fires over the next few days as temperatures warm up and help small lightning caused fires to flourish.    

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.

Throughout the province, our wildfire management areas are all dealing with multiple wildfires and your co-operation with the fire ban will not only help to reduce the number of new wildfires we need to contend with, but also prevent the unnecessary dispatching of our resources to your burn site. 

Wildfire Hazard

The wildfire hazard is now EXTREME.  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 62 wildfires in the Peace River Wildfire Management Area this fire season, 19 of which were discovered yesterday afternoon and evening.  

Active wildfires in the area current as of 10 am 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 is under control at 0.10 in size.  
• PWF 045 and 056 are under control at 0.01 hectares.
• PWF 048 is being held at 4.7 hectares.
• PWF 050 is out of control at 25 hectares
• PWF 051 is being held at 0.30 hectares
• PWF 052  is out of control at 430 hectares
• PWF 054 is out of control at 50 hectares
• PWF 055 is under control at 0.10 hectares
• PWF 059 is under control at 0.20 hectares
• PWF 061 is being held at 0.10 hectares
• PWF 062 being held at 8.7 hectares

Firefighting crews, air tankers and dozer groups are working diligently to get these wildfires under control and and will continue to do so until they are extinguished.

A number of the wildfires that started last night are located just southwest of the Hotchkiss Lookout down the Chinchaga Forestry Road.  We have combined these wildfires into an area that will be called the Hotchkiss complex.  A map of the complex is currently being worked on and will be included in future updates.    

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

Provincial Wildfires

Provincially, there are 65 wildfires currently burning, 19 of which remain out of control. 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. 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.