Peace River Area Update

Peace River Forest Area Update - June 10, 2019

Posted on Mon, Jun 10, 2019

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FIRE BAN REMAINS IN EFFECT

FBSFireBan_SocialMedia-01Due to the continued wildfire danger from dry grass and weather indicators, the Fire Ban and OHV Restriction remains in effect for the Peace River Forest Area and most of northern Alberta. 

Existing fire permits are suspended until further notice. 

Prohibited

  • All open fires including campfires in campgrounds, backcountry and random camping areas and backyard fire pits.
  • Charcoal briquettes, turkey fryers and tiki torches.
  • Fireworks and exploding targets.
  • The use of off-highway vehicles for recreational use on all public lands. 

Allowed

  • Portable propane fire pits that are CSA approved or UL certified.
  • Gas or propane stoves and barbecues that are CSA approved or UL certified and are designed for cooking or heating.
  • Catalytic or infrared-style heaters.
  • OHVs for industrial use, agricultural use, and traditional use by Indigenous peoples, as well as use on private lands. 

The Fire Ban and Off-Highway Vehicle Restriction will remain in effect until conditions improve. 

Many nearby municipalities have advisories, restrictions or firebans in place.  Please check www.albertafirebans.ca for more information and to view a map of the fireban/OHV restriction boundaries.

 

WILDFIRE UPDATE (current as of June 10, 2019 at 3 pm)

Numerous resources including crews, aircraft and heavy equipment groups have been placed throughout the area on standby and at the ready to quickly action any new wildfire starts.  

There have been 75 wildfires in the Peace River Forest Area this fire season, and each of these wildfires has now been extinguished with the exception of two.  

Battle Complex:

PCX-001 (formerly PWF 052 and 054):

This lightning caused fire remains out of control at 54,255 hectares in size in the Manning/Notikewin area  

 

  • Fire behaviour increased yesterday due to the warmer weather. Areas that were previously dormant were more active and increased fire activity was observed throughout the day.

  • Aerial ignition operations began at approximately 3:30 pm yesterday and the planned ignitions on the west flank of the Battle Fire (south of the Hotchkiss River) were successful. Winds were in a very favourable direction. The area targeted was a pocket of unburnt fuel between the guard and the wildfire.  That area is now well protected by an area of burned fuel and that volatile pocket of spruce has been burned away.

  • Today, crews are continuing to work on identified hotspots. Excavators are being used to remove danger trees.  Due to the increasing temperatures and dropping RH levels, there will be more open flame and active candling in areas of unburnt fuel in the next couple of days.

  • Visibility was an issue this morning on the complex. Air Operations were delayed as the inversion that developed in the area did not begin to lift until late morning.  Another inversion is expected for tomorrow which will result in smoke settling low in the area once again.

  • As the temperatures increase and relative humidity levels decrease, fire behavior will continually intensify.  While the perimeter has been fortified and has been holding, there are numerous pockets of unburned trees within the fire that will continue to burn.  Nearby residents will continue to see signs of active burning such as smoke columns in the fire area.    
  • Battle Complex Map

PWF 070 remains classified as under control at 251 hectares in size west of Keg River.  The fire has been completely surrounded by dozer guard and the perimeter has not changed since Monday of last week.    

PWF 070 map 

 

PWF 074 has been extinguished.

 

HWF 042 (Chuckegg Creek Fire)

For updates on this fire, please visit http://srd.web.alberta.ca/high-level-area-update 

 

For your safety and the safety of the numerous firefighters working to contain these wildfires, please stay obey the access restrictions and stay out of the area.

 

For information on the wildfire situation across the province of Alberta, visit: wildfire.alberta.ca.

 

FIRE WEATHER

Tomorrow, temperatures are expected to increase to 22 degrees while the relative humidity is expected to drop down to 30%.  Approximately 40% of the area should see some light to moderate rainfall over the next 24 hours, but some of that will come in the form of thundershowers, so there is also a moderate chance of lighting passing through the area which could cause new lightning fires.

 

SAFETY NOTICES

EVACUATION UPDATES

County of Northern Lights:

The County of Northern Lights has issued a number of evacuation alerts for the area.  For more information and updates on their status, download the Alberta Emergency Alert app, listen to the local radio station or visit the County of Northern Lights website: www.countyofnorthernlights.com or the County’s facebook page www.facebook.com/countyofnorthernlights.
 
 
Town of Manning/County of Northern Lights:
 
The evacuation alert for the Town of Manning including surround County of Northern Lights residents north of township road 910 (Northstar road) and south of township road 922 (Notikewin road) and all those west of range road 231 remains in effect.
 
Potentially affected residents must begin preparations to evacuate on short notice (fueling vehicles, gathering documents, preparing food and water and animal safety, etc.)
 
In the event that the evacuation order is given, the Emergency Coordination Centre will instruct you on an evacuation route and reception centre.
 
Please continue to monitor the local media stations, the County of Northern Lights website (www.countyofnorthernlights.com) and the Town of Manning Facebook page for updates.  
   
 
Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement:
 
Paddle Prairie remains evacuated.  Evacuees should register at the reception centre located at the Grande Prairie Regional College.  The reception centre phone number is 780-567-5587.
 
For information on the Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement evacuation, please visit their Facebook page. 


For more information on evacuation alerts, visit Alberta Emergency Alert or download the free Alberta Emergency Alert app.

72 hour emergency preparedness kit      

 

ROAD CLOSURES

The Chinchaga Road continues to be closed to the public. It can be accessed by commercial traffic but there are danger trees along the route so those using the road must stop at the checkpoints, drive 50 km/hr and drive straight through the area affected by the fire.  No stopping is permitted while traversing the fire area. 

Highway 35 is open for travel between Township Road 1022 and 5km south of High Level. This portion requires a police escort. Expect major delays in the area. There still is no access to Paddle Prairie at this time due to the wildfire.

For information on road closures and other access related hazards, visit Alberta 511 or download the free Alberta 511 app.

 

SMOKE

Smoke may be drifting into the area for the foreseeable future. Anyone with health concerns should check with Alberta Health Services or call 811 for 24/7 health advice from Alberta Health Link. For a smoke forecast map, visit Wildfire Smoke Forecasts for Western Canada.

 

FIRE PERMITS SUSPENDED

All fire permits have been suspended, effective on May 16 at 6 pm.  No fire permits will be issued until the fire danger conditions improve.  

Please call the Peace River Forest Area office at 780-624-6190 if you have any questions about fire permits.

 

DO YOUR PART TO PREVENT WILDFIRES

Please continue to respect the fire ban and quad restriction currently in effect.  

  

FIRESMART

You can protect your home from wildfire

Protecting your home from wildfire starts with simple actions. Whether you are doing regular yard maintenance or making large scale changes during renovations or landscaping, you can make choices that will help protect your home from wildfire.

Learn more at firesmartcanada.ca.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

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Or contact:

Crystal Burrows 

Wildfire Information Officer

(780) 618-6215

crystal.burrows@gov.ab.ca

Report Wildfires 310-FIRE (3743)

 

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