Slave Lake Area Update

Wildfire Danger 

The wildfire danger is MODERATE in the Slave Lake Forest Area. 

Weather

The high for today will be 15 degrees and winds will be northwest 25 gusting up to 40 kilometres per hour. Scattered rain showers are expected across the area.

Wildfire Update - May 26, 2020- 11:00 am

Since March 1 in the Slave Lake Forest Area, there have been 24 wildfires which have burned a total of 256.11 hectares.

The McMillan Wildfire which occurred during the 2019 wildfire season, remains under control and will be infrared scanned this spring.

Since March 1 in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta, there have been 243 wildfires burning a total of 429.39 hectares.

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

Fire advisory in place

Due to reduced wildfire hazard, advanced operational preparedness and favourable weather conditions in many areas of the province, the fire ban in the Forest Protection Area has now been revoked and a fire advisory has been put on in its place.

A fire advisory means Albertans in the Forest Protection Area can safely enjoy the use of a fire pit in their backyard, charcoal briquettes on a barbecue, or a safe campfire.

Permissible:

• safe wood campfires
• backyard fire pits
• charcoal briquette barbecues
• use of propane, natural gas or powered appliance
• catalytic or infrared-style heaters
• safe burning with a fire permit
• recreational off-highway vehicle use

Not permissible:

• burning (excluding campfires) without a permit
• unattended or unsafe campfires

To request a fire permit please call your local Alberta Agriculture and Forestry office.Please note that fire permits may not be issued as usual under a fire advisory.

These precautions were put in place as part of the COVID-19 pandemic response plan to avoid multiple disasters at a time when resources may be limited. Two hundred additional firefighters were hired and are now trained and positioned to respond to new wildfire starts.

Restrictions can be phased back in as necessary to address wildfire risk area-by-area, allowing Albertans the freedom to enjoy the outdoors as much as possible. We will re-evaluate daily.

We expect this fire advisory to reduce the number of human-caused wildfires in Alberta, while allowing Albertans to enjoy outdoor activities as much as possible.

Stay tuned to www.albertafirebans.ca throughout the wildfire season for more information about fire bans and restrictions in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta.

Fire Permits

Fire permits are required for any type of burning in the Forest Protection Area. A fire permit is not required for a cooking or warming fire.

To request a fire permit call your local Alberta Agriculture and Forestry Office.

Unless conditions change you can expect your next wildfire update on June 1st.

• Alberta Wildfire
• Alberta Fire Bans
• FireSmart in Alberta
• Alberta Emergency Alerts
• Air Quality Health Index
• Wildfire Smoke and Your Health
• 511 Road Reports
• Emergency Preparation
  

 

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• Alberta Wildfire App for Apple or Android.
• Alberta Fire Bans App for Apple or Android.