Wildfire Hazard
Widespread rain and cool temperatures have brought relief to the wildfire hazard in the Slave Lake Forest Area.
Click here to view the wildfire hazard map.
Weather
Widespread rain is expected to continue today.
Wildfire Situation as of 1:00 pm June 27th, 2017
Firefighters and airtankers were extremely busy last night as lightning sparked 11 new wildfires. Click here to view the lightning map from last night. The majority of the wildfires were small ranging in sizes from 0.01 hectares to 0.5 hectares. The larger wildfires near Otter Lakes are 60 hectares and 100 hectares. Of the 11 wildfires two are classified as out of control, one is being held, seven are under control and one has been extinguished.
Slave Lake Wildfire Number 51 and 52 - These wildfires were caused by last night's lightning and are located south of Otter Lakes. They are classified as burning out of control. Wildfire 51 is estimated at 100 hectares in size and wildfire 52 is estimated at 60 hectares in size. There are 50 firefighters with three helicopters working to contain these wildfires. This morning, firefighters have reported that they are receiving rain on these wildfires. No communities are being threatened.
Photo: Slave Lake Wildfires Number 51 and 52 burning south of Otter Lakes taken at 11:00 am June 27th.
Slave Lake Wildfire Number 49 - This wildfire started on June 25th and is located 5 kilometres east of Highway 88, approximately 42 kilometres north of Red Earth Creek. The wildfire is estimated to be 320 hectares in size and is being held as of early this morning. Being held means under the current weather conditions and with the firefighting efforts being applied, the wildfire is not likely to grow. There are 52 firefighters with five helicopters working to extinguish this wildfire.No communities are being threatened.
Photo: Slave Lake Wildfire Number 49 located 42 kilometres north of Red Earth Creek is being held. Photo was taken on the morning of June 26th.
Since March 1st, the Slave Lake Forest Area has recorded 61 wildfires, burning a total area of 530.47 hectares.
For information on the wildfire situation across the province of Alberta click here.
Fire Permits
Don't forget to get your free fire permit for fireworks. Fire permits are required when igniting fireworks in the Forest Protection Area.
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
During the Fire Season a fire permit is required for any burning in the Forest Protection Area -excluding campfires.
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.
Please do your part to prevent wildfires
Ride Debris Free
Did you know? 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 smouldering 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.
Unless conditions change, you can expect your next wildfire update on June 27th, 2017.
Leah Lovequist - Wildfire Information Officer
Mobile: 780-849-0945
Email: Leah.Lovequist@gov.ab.ca
Report Wildfires 310-FIRE (3473)