Wildfire Season Starts March 1st
The 2017 wildfire season will begin in less than two weeks. Please do your part to prevent wildfires this spring by making sure your winter burns are extinguished. A fire left smouldering can burn under the snow all winter and emerge as a wildfire in the spring when conditions are warm and dry.
Click here to view today's announcement about the start of Alberta's wildfire season.
Starting March 1st fire permits will be required for any burning (excluding campfires) in the Forest Protection Area.
To obtain your free fire permit call 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
Winter Burning
If you have conducted brush pile or windrow burning this winter, go back and make sure it's out. All winter burning must be extinguished prior to the start of the wildfire season on March 1st.
When checking your winter burning, spread around any remaining debris so you can probe the area for hotspots. 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. Report your winter burns to Slave Lake Forest Area Wildfire Technologist Russell Murphy by calling 780-849-7457 or email Russell.Murphy@gov.ab.ca
Wildfire Information
Download the Alberta Wildfire app for Apple or Android devices.
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Subscribe to the Slave Lake Forest Area Wildfire Update to receive an email when new information is posted.
Unless conditions change, you can expect your next wildfire update on March 1st, 2017.
Leah Lovequist -Wildfire Information Officer
Mobile: 780.849.0945 Leah.Lovequist@gov.ab.ca
Report Wildfires 310-FIRE (3473)