Peace River Area Update

Lightning Storms Continue to Cause Multiple Wildfire Starts

Posted on Tue, Jun 30, 2015

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The winds were in our favor today and the fire that was threatening to come over from British Columbia and into Alberta was pushed away from the border by the winds.         

Wildfire Hazard

The wildfire hazard in the area is now HIGH.  Lightning showers are expected to pass through the area once again tomorrow which will create the opportunity for numerous wildfire starts over the next couple of days.

Please help our firefighters action wildfires quickly by contacting us immediately at 310-FIRE to report wildfires.

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Fire Advisory Information

The Peace River Wildfire Management Area has declared a Fire Advisory effective at noon on June 26, 2015.

Campfires
Safe campfires are permitted in campgrounds and back country or random camping areas. 

Fire Permits
Fire permits are not suspended at this time, but may be in the future if the wildfire hazard continues to climb. Fire permits will be issued on a site by site basis and may be refused until conditions are more favorable. 

Weather Advisory
Lightning storms along with strong, gusting winds are expected for the weekend. Strong winds can cause extreme fire behaviour and allow fires to grow rapidly, while lightning can ignite multiple wildfires. Residents and visitors to the Peace River Wildfire Management Area are urged to be extra cautious with any burning at this time and call 310-FIRE to report wildfires.

Contact 1-866-FYI-FIRE with questions.

Please make a habit of visiting www.albertafirebans.ca to ensure that there is no fire ban or restriction in your area before burning.

Local Wildfires

There have been 122 wildfires in the Peace River Wildfire Management Area this fire season, all but 4 of which have been extinguished.  

There have been 6 new lightning-caused wildfires in the Peace River Wildfire Management in the last 24 hours raising the total for this fire season to 71.  Thanks to the hard work of our firefighters, all but one of the wildfires that started in the last 24 hours has been extinguished.

Active wildfires in the area current as of 5 pm on June 30 (changes have been bolded): 

  • PWF 052  is under control at 1202.80 hectares and surrounded by dozer guard  
  • PWF 054 is under control at 36.60 hectares
  • PWF 115 has now been extinguished at 0.01 hectares in the Hawk Hills area.  
  • PWF 116 is now being held at 5.60 hectares northeast of the Notikewin Provincial Park
  • PWF 117 was extinguished at 0.10 hectares northeast of the Hamburg area.
  • PWF 118 was extinguished at 0.01 hectares in the Fontas area.
  • PWF 119 was extinguished at 0.01 hectares in the Clearhills area.
  • PWF 120 is under control at 0.01 hectares in the Clearhills area.
  • PWF 121 has been extinguished at 0.01 hectares in the Keg River area.
  • PWF 122 has been extinguished at 0.01 hectares in the Keg River area.

There is also a fire located just on the BC side of the Alberta/British Columbia border in the Fontas area. The fire is now 8000 hectares in size but it has yet to cross over the border  The weather conditions over the fire also helped to damper the fire behavior today.  Please visit bcwildfire.ca and look up fire number G80252 for more information on this wildfire.  

There have been a number of lightning fires already this year and it is still early in the lightning season. Often, there are multiple wildfire starts in one day as storm cells pass through.  Please help our firefighters get to these fires while they are small by calling 310-FIRE.

Please click the link for an explanation of wildfire statuses.

Provincial Wildfires

There are 123 wildfires currently burning, 46 of which remain out of control as of 5 pm on June 30.  

The 2015 fire season has been busier than average for the province with 1190 fires and 205,621 hectares burned thus far.  This time last year, there had been 769 wildfires with a total of 1849 hectares burned.

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.

Fire Permits

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 our Peace River 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.

Wildfire Prevention

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

For More Information

 

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