Wildfire Danger
The wildfire danger is LOW in the Slave Lake Forest Area. Click here to view the wildfire danger map. Unless conditions change your next wildfire update will be July 9th .
Wildfire Update
Since March 1st, there have been 130 wildfires and 274,086 hectares burned in the Slave Lake Forest Area.
Provincial Wildfire Situation
For information on the wildfire situation across the province of Alberta click here.
Click here to view a map of the wildfires burning in Alberta.
Keep up to date on the current wildfire situation visit www.wildfire.alberta.ca and follow Alberta Wildfire on Facebook and Twitter.
Firefighters extinguishing ground fires on SWF049.
McMillan Complex - July 2nd 12:30 pm
Thanks to mother nature and the perseverance of firefighters, helicopters and heavy equipment, the McMillan Complex wildfire number 49 has been declared under control as of 8:00 pm on July 1st. Fire behavior remains minimal due to the cool and wet weather. Firefighters continue to patrol and extinguish smouldering ground fires along the fire's perimeter. A number of the smouldering ground fires have burned four feet into the ground and do require significant effort to dig up and extinguish.
Firefighters from Mexico
Currently there are 399 firefighters and support staff, 25 helicopters and 29 pieces of heavy equipment working on the McMillan Complex.Since the start of these wildfires, 46 days ago we have received firefighters and support staff from British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick, Parks Canada, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Nevada, Oregon and Mexico.Thank you to everyone who has assisted, the support has been incredible.
For your safety stay clear of burned areas
Even though the wildfire is under control, firefighters strongly advise you to stay out of burned areas.Trees in the burned areas can fall easily without wind and in some areas the fire continues to burn deep under the ground. Stay safe and avoid venturing into areas of recent wildfire activity.
Smoke on Highway 754
When traveling on Highway 754 you will see areas of smoldering ground fires.These smoldering ground fires do not pose a threat to the highway.Firefighters are working to extinguish these areas. For the safety of our firefighters, please obey the reduced speed limit on the highway 754.
There are four wildfires within the McMillan Complex. For exact locations of the wildfires please click on the map links below.
SWF-049 is 273,045 hectares and classified as under control.
SWF-078 is 137 hectares and classified as under control.
SWF-090 is 187 hectares and classified as under control.
SWF-099 is 2 hectares and has been extinguished.
Note: wildfire sizes are subject to change as more accurate readings of the perimeter become available.
Fire Permits
From March 1st to October 31st, a fire permit is required for any type of burning in the Forest Protection Area. A campfire for cooking or warming does not require a fire permit.
To request your free fire permit call your local Alberta Agriculture and Forestry Office:
Slave Lake/Red Earth/Trout/Peerless/Loon 780-849-7377
Wabasca 780-891-3860
High Prairie 780-523-6619
Do your part to prevent wildfires.
When riding your off highway vehicle stop frequently to remove any build-up of debris from the hot spots on your machine. 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 to the ground as you drive away.
Never leave your campfire unattended and make sure it's out. Soak it with water, stir up the ashes and soak it again. A campfire is out when the ashes are cool to the touch.
Unless conditions change your next wildfire update will be July 9th.
Leah Lovequist
Wildfire Information Officer
Mobile: 780-849-0945
Email: Leah.Lovequist@gov.ab.ca
Keep up to date on the wildfire situation by subscribing to the Slave Lake Forest Area Wildfire Update or download the free Alberta Wildfire app for Apple or Android devices.