The wildfire hazard will be HIGH for Friday as the forecast is calling for moderate winds and warm temperatures.
Use caution as a wildfire will ignite easily in areas of dead dry grass and spread quickly under these windy conditions.
Call 310-FIRE (3473) immediately to report a wildfire.
Safe campfires and valid fire permits are allowed. Remember to check the weather and be sure to follow the conditions on your fire permit.
For Friday, the forecast is calling for temperatures in the high teens and winds from the southeast 15 kilometres per hour.The warm weather and moderate winds are expected to continue over the weekend.
There were two new wildfires last night in the Wabasca area. Thanks to Wabasca and Bigstone Fire Departments both grass fires were quickly contained and extinguished. Since April 1st there have been 26 wildfires in the Slave Lake Forest Area. Thanks to the hard work of firefighters, aircraft pilots and heavy equipment operators 25 have been extinguished and one is under control. The total area burned is just over 48 hectares.
Click here to view the Wildfire Situation in Alberta.
Fire permits are required for any type of burning in the Forest Protection Area. Campfires do not require a fire permit.
Fire permits are free and can be obtained by calling 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
Check the weather prior to burning and be sure to follow the conditions on your Fire Permit.
By getting a fire permit you help keep our firefighters free to fight real wildfires instead of investigating the smoke in your backyard.
Spring is the time of year when wildfires are 100 per cent preventable. Most if not all of the wildfires we see at this time of year are human-caused. Human-caused wildfires are 100 per cent preventable. Please do your part to prevent wildfires this spring.
The majority of wildfires this spring were caused by winter burning. Go back and make sure your winter burns are extinguished. The mild winter and dry ground conditions are proving favorable for holdover fires. When checking your brush piles, spread around any remaining debris so you can probe the area for ground fires. Use your bare hand to feel for heat over the ash piles. If you see smoke or feel any heat, the fire is still burning beneath the surface. Douse any remaining hot spots with water and stir up the ashes. A fire is not completely extinguished until there is absolutely no heat emanating from the ashes.
A campfire left smouldering can cause a wildfire. Never leave your campfire unattended and make sure it's out. This video shows you how to make sure your campfire is out.
Your off-highway vehicle can start a wildfire. Check your off-highway vehicle frequently for any smouldering debris. Grass, muskeg, moss or other debris can drop to the ground as you're riding and spark a wildfire.This video shows you how to ride debris free!
Unless conditions change, you can expect your next wildfire update on April 29th.
Leah Lovequist -Wildfire Information Officer
Mobile: 780.849.0945
Leah.Lovequist@gov.ab.ca
Report Wildfires 310-FIRE (3473)
