Peace River Area Update

Peace River Forest Area Update - May 29, 2018

Posted on Tue, May 29, 2018

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FIRE BAN AND OHV RESTRICTION NOW IN EFFECT

A Fire Ban and Off-Highway Vehicle Restriction has been issued in the Forest Protection Area for most of northern Alberta beginning at the southern border of Big Lakes County, the hamlet of Lac La Biche and the town of Peace River, extending north to the border of Wood Buffalo National Park and NWT.
 
All fire permits are suspended and no new fire permits will be issued.
 
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.
 
The Fire Ban and Off-Highway Vehicle Restriction will remain in effect until conditions improve.
 
 
The Fire Ban and OHV Restriction will remain in effect until conditions improve.
For more information on this and other fire advisories/restrictions and fire bans within the province, please visit www.albertafirebans.ca or download the new Alberta Firebans App!

AW-FireBan App Call to action FB-FINALDownload the new Alberta fire ban app, available for Android and Apple devices, to make planning your next outdoor adventure a breeze!

Features include:

  • Push notification settings for specific geographic areas.
  • Three distinct categories - fire bans, restrictions and advisories.
  • Up-to-date data sourced directly from provincial fire authorities.
  • Provides data from last time opened even without data or WiFi.
 
 

WILDFIRE UPDATE (current as of 12 pm on May 29)

The wildfire danger level remains EXTREME in the Peace River Forest Area. The dry grasses and forest vegetation pose an especially high hazard in windy conditions. Please exercise extreme caution.  

Today's temperatures are expected to drop slightly to the low to mid teens, and the relative humidity is expected to range between 20-30%.  The winds will be of concern again this afternoon, blowing in from the northwest at 20 km/hr with gusts up to 40 km/hr.  Scattered showers are expected to pass through the area as well.  Check our wildfire weather forecast for more details (MA=west side of the Peace River, RE= the east side).

There are currently 3 active wildfires in the Peace River Forest Area.

  • PWF 34 is located west of the Hamburg area and is now under control at 1,168.00 hectares in size.  
  • PWF 42 is under control at 0.01 hectares in size west of Dixonville

PWF 047

This fire is still burning out of control at 2161.7 hectares in size 20 kms west of Hotchkiss.  There are 7 heavy equipment groups (21 dozers, 5 excavators and 8 nodwells) working on building dozer guard on the fire.  There are also numerous firefighters and helicopters working to gain control of this fire today.  

Expect local smoke in the next few days.  Anyone with health concerns should check the Alberta Health Services or call 811 for 24/7 health advise from Alberta Health Link. For a smoke forecast map use  Western Canada Smoke

For your safety and the safety of firefighters, please stay clear of wildfire operations especially when aircraft are flying in the area. We appreciate your support.  

For more information on the location of wildfires in the province including status definitions, please visit our wildfire status map. 

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

 

DO YOUR PART TO PREVENT WILDFIRES 

Before you burn it, get a permit

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Fire permits are now all suspended and no new fire permits will be issued until further notice.

Use campfires responsibly

Until further notice, NO campfires are permitted within the Forest Protection Area (of Northern Alberta) as per the fire ban above.

Off-Highway Vehicle Restriction

Until further notice,  the use of off-highway vehicles for recreational use on all public lands in northern Alberta is being restricted to help prevent the spread of wildfires.

Call 310-FIRE to report wildfires.

 

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

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Or contact:

Crystal Burrows 

Wildfire Information Officer

(780) 618-6215

crystal.burrows@gov.ab.ca