Firefighters urge everyone to use caution when working or recreating in forested or grassy areas and to report smoke or fire in the forest by calling 310-FIRE (3473).
Please extinguish your campfire and never leave it unattended. Soak your campfire, stir it and soak it again until the ashes are cool to the touch.
WHITECOURT FOREST AREA FIRE DANGER RATING
The wildfire danger in the Whitecourt Forest Area remains HIGH.
WHITECOURT FOREST AREA WILDFIRE UPDATE
Since January 1, 2022, there have been 45 wildfires in the Whitecourt Forest Area burning a total of 110 ha.
WWF038 was detected on July 16 and is located approximately 35 kilometers northeast of Fox Creek. It is currently estimated to be 70.73 ha in size and is now classified as under control.
Firefighters will continue to search for and extinguish hotspots until this wildfire is fully extinguished.
The cause of the wildfire was lightning and does not threaten any community at this time.
Did you know that an average of 30 percent of wildfires in Alberta are caused by lightning each year? Fortunately, AB Wildfire uses technology that can forecast and detect lightning strikes. They operate a lightning detection system developed by VAISALA. The system enables fire managers to monitor cloud-to-ground lightning activity on a provincial basis. You can learn more by clicking here.
To learn more about the classification of wildfires, please click here. To view the wildfires on a map, check out the new wildfire dashboard. It provides up-to-date wildfire information at the click of a button. This interactive tool displays important statistics on the number of active wildfires in the province, sizes, locations, suspected causes and more.
PROVINCIAL WILDFIRE UPDATE
Since January 1, 2022 in the Forest Protection Area, there have been 773 wildfires burning a total of 107,511 ha.
(Combined Whitecourt and Grande Prairie wildfire crews heading to BC).
EXPORTED CREWS
Alberta Wildfire is sending crews to assist with British Columbia wildfires. We hope that they have a safe and successful trip! Thank you!
CAMPFIRE SAFETY
SOAK IT, STIR IT, AND SOAK IT AGAIN
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Let the fire burn down before you plan on putting it out. Spread the embers within the fire pit, then add water or loose dirt, and stir.
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Expose any material still burning. Add more water and stir again until you can no longer see smoke or steam. Do not bury your fire as the embers may continue to smoulder and can re-emerge as a wildfire.
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Repeat until your campfire is cool to the touch.
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If your fire is out, you should not be able to feel any heat from the ashes.
FIRESMART
Using FireSmart principles is becoming a way of life for many communities in North America. With so many neighborhoods threatened by wildfire each year, residents are taking action and reducing the risk to their homes, cabins and properties.
Being FireSmart doesn't have to be complicated and there are many resources to help you get started. You can check out some easy tasks by visiting firesmartcanada.ca, click here to watch a video or you can take the FireSmart Canada FREE one-hour course by clicking here.
REQUEST A FIRE PERMIT
Wildfire season in Alberta is from March 1 until October 31. During wildfire season, you are required to have a fire permit if you plan on burning in the Forest Protection Area, with the exception of a campfire.
To request a free fire permit online, visit the new portal. You will need a MyAlberta Digital ID to access the portal. Please note that you can still request your permit from the Fort McMurray forest office by calling 780-743-7125.
For more information regarding fire permits, you can view our video by clicking here.
WILDFIRE INFORMATION
Download the Alberta Wildfire app today and get access to accurate, real-time information on wildfires in your area. You can also find information on fire advisories, restrictions and bans across the province and much more all on your mobile device.
Available for Apple and Android.
Before heading out, please check albertafirebans.ca to determine whether there are any fire advisories, fire restrictions or fire bans in effect for your destination.
780-778-7166
General Information Related to Alberta Wildfire or Fire Bans, Restrictions, or Advisories
1-866-FYI-FIRE
General/Other Forestry Related Questions
780-778-7153
Websites:
- Alberta Wildfire
- Alberta Fire Bans
- FireSmart in Alberta
- Alberta Emergency Alerts
- Air Quality Health Index
- Wildfire Smoke and Your Health
- 511 Road Reports
- Emergency Preparation
Social Media:
