Photo taken Saturday April 30th at approximately 7:00 pm
Update on Slave Wildfire Number 30 as of Saturday April 30th at 8:00 pm
This wildfire is located approximately 45 kilometres northwest of Red Earth Creek. Communities are not being threatened.
The wildfire is burning out of control and is estimated to be 180-200 hectares.
At this time, the wildfire has decreased in intensity due to wet ground and mixed-wood forest type.
Various pieces of heavy equipment are on site and 68 firefighters are en route.
Helicopters continue to bucket on areas of open flame and dozers have begun to build guard around the wildfire and will work through the night.
The wildfire hazard will remain VERY HIGH as very warm temperatures are in the forecast for Sunday.
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.
For Sunday, the forecast is calling for temperatures in the mid twenties and winds from the southwest 15 to 20 kilometres per hour. Warm and dry weather is expected to continue over the next several days.
There were two new wildfires in the past 24 hours. One is burning out of control (SWF030) and one has been deemed under control and has been turned over to the landowner who will extinguish it. Since April 1st there have been 31 wildfires in the Slave Lake Forest Area and the total area burned is just over 230 hectares.
Click here to view the Wildfire Situation in Alberta.
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!
Safe campfires and valid permits are allowed. Remember to check the weather and be sure to follow the conditions on your fire permit.
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
By getting a fire permit you help keep our firefighters free to fight real wildfires instead of investigating the smoke in your backyard.
Unless conditions change, you can expect your next wildfire update on May 1st.
Leah Lovequist -Wildfire Information Officer
Mobile: 780.849.0945
Leah.Lovequist@gov.ab.ca
Report Wildfires 310-FIRE (3473)
