Slave Lake Area Update

Wildfire hazard VERY HIGH for areas around High Prairie. Use caution as winds will be strong and gusty today.

Posted on Wed, Jul 29, 2015

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Wildfire Hazard

Recent warm weather has caused the wildfire hazard to climb to HIGH for the Slave Lake Wildfire Management Area. The hazard is VERY HIGH for areas around the community of High Prairie.Winds are expected to be very strong and gusty again today.Use caution while working or recreating in our forests as conditions are dry and a wildfire will ignite easily and spread very quickly under windy conditions. To report a wildfire call 310-FIRE(3473).

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 Weather Forecast

The forecast for today is calling for a high of 20 degrees and winds from the west at 20 gusting up to 40 kilometres per hour.  

 

Wildfire Update as of 11:00 am Wednesday July 29, 2015

There have been no new wildfires in the past 24 hours.

Slave Lake Wildfire number 228 was started by lightning on July 26th and is located 29 kilometres northwest of Red Earth Creek. This wildfire is under control and firefighters are working to extinguish it.

Slave Lake Wildfire number 175 was discovered on July 1st and is located 36 kilometers northeast of Peerless Lake and 33 kilometers west of Chipewyan Lakes.This wildfire is being held which means given current weather conditions and firefighting resources, the wildfire is not anticipated to grow past expected boundaries.Firefighters using heavy equipment and helicopters are working on extinguishing hotspots along the edges of this wildfire.

Slave Lake Wildfire number 163 which is located at approximately kilometer 25 on highway 754, 26 kilometers northeast of Marten Beach remains being held at 9,895 hectares. Being held means, given current weather conditions and firefighting resources, the wildfire is not anticipated to grow past expected boundaries. This wildfire is 95 % contained. Infrared aerial scans are being perfromed on the wildfire to locate areas of deep burning ground fire. Firefighters receive the gps locations and are extinguishing them.

Firefighters continue to work on the wildfire along highway 754. For the safety of our firefighting personnel, please slow down and follow the posted speed limits.

Since April 1, in the Slave Lake Wildfire Management Area there have been 233 wildfires that have burned a total of 22,331 hectares.

Fire Permits

With Heritage Day around the corner, be sure to request your free fire permit if you plan on igniting fireworks in the Forest Protection Area.

From March 1 to October 31, fire permits are required for any type of burning in the forest protection area - except campfires. A fire permit is not required for a campfire. 

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

Slave Lake/Red Earth/Peerless Lake/Trout Lake 780-849-7377

High Prairie 780-523-6619

Wabasca 780-891-3860

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Fire permits help us track what is burning on the landscape. By getting a fire permit and following the fire permit conditions you help keep our firefighters free to fight existing wildfires and any new wildfires that may start.

 

Enjoy the long weekend and thank you for doing your part to help prevent wildfires!


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Unless conditions change, you can expect your next wildfire update Thursday July 30th.
Leah Lovequist - Wildfire Information Officer
Slave Lake Wildfire Management Area 
Office: 780.849.7412
Mobile: 780.849.0945 
Leah.Lovequist@gov.ab.ca 
To report wildfires call 310-FIRE
For information about wildfires in Alberta follow us on Twitter @ABGovWildfire or Facebook. Download the free Alberta Wildfire app for Apple and Android devices.