The wildfire hazard in the Slave Lake Forest Area is LOW.
Firefighters burning grass
Over the next several weeks, firefighters will be burning areas of dry grass in and around many communities in the Slave Lake Forest Area. Burning helps to remove the dangerous build-up of dry grass that becomes prominent around many communities in the fall. If you have any questions please feel free to contact Wildfire Information Officer Leah Lovequist 780-849-0945.
Fire Permits are required until October 31st
A fire permit is required for any burning in the Forest Protection Area -excluding campfires.
To obtain your free fire permit, please call your local Alberta Agriculture and Forestry Office:
- Slave Lake/Red Earth/Peerless/Trout 780-849-7377
- Wabasca 780-891-3860
- High Prairie 780-523-6619
Fire permits help us to track what is burning on the landscape and if you are burning without a fire permit or outside your fire permit conditions, your fire is considered a wildfire. By getting a fire permit you help keep our firefighters free to fight real wildfires instead of responding to the smoke in your backyard.
Wildfire Situation as of October 10th, 2017
There have been no new wildfires since September 16th.
Since March 1st, the Slave Lake Forest Area has recorded 123 wildfires, burning a total area of 17,710.48 hectares. Of the 123 wildfires, 122 have been extinguished and one (SWF107) is under control.
Slave Lake Wildfire 107 is located approximately 50 kilometres northeast of Chipewyan Lakes and 112 kilometres northwest of Fort McMurray. Firefighters declared this wildfire under control at 17, 032 hectares on September 21st. Click here to view map of SWF107.
Since this wildfire occurred in a zone where it did not threaten communities or resources it was allowed to burn onto the landscape naturally under the watchful eye of experienced fire managers. Using this wildfire management strategy has many benefits; it re-introduces fire onto the landscape, creates a break in the continuous fuels, reduces the intensity of the fire providing safety zones for our firefighting crews to work from and reduces the cost of fighting these wildfires.
For information on the wildfire situation across the province of Alberta click here.
Unless conditions change, you can expect your next wildfire update on October 10th, 2017
Please do your part to prevent wildfires
Ride Debris Free. An Off-Highway vehicle exhaust can reach temperatures of over 200 degrees Celsius. That means it won't take long for that wet and muddy debris to dry up, start smoldering and fall onto the ground as you drive away.You can help reduce your chance of starting a wildfire by stopping frequently to remove any build up of debris from the hot spots on your machine.
Wildfire Information
Unless conditions change, you can expect your next wildfire update on October 17th, 2017
If you have any questions please contact
Leah Lovequist
Wildfire Information Officer
Mobile: 780-849-0945
Email: leah.lovequist@gov.ab.ca
Report Wildfires 310-FIRE (3473)