Whitecourt Area Update

5:00 p.m. Wildfire Update - Good Progress Made on All Wildfires in Area | Whitecourt Forest Area

Posted on Wed, May 18, 2016

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Wildfire Update | May 18 @ 5:00 p.m.

There are two wildfires in the Whitecourt Forest Area.

Note: The Wildfire in the Little Smoky area (WWF-025) is now called the Iosegun Lake Fire 

Iosegun Lake Fire (WWF025)- started at 1:00 p.m. May 15 and remains classified as OUT CONTROL. The wildfire has not grown for 24 hours and is still 657 hectares in size. Thanks to the hard work of firefighters, 80 percent of the perimeter of the wildfire is now secured with fireguard.

The north end of the wildfire remains 8 kilometres south east of the nearest community, Little Smoky. On the south end of the wildfire, it remains 11 kilometres north of the Town of Fox Creek. Currently no communities or critical infrastructure are threatened.

A NOTAM remains in effect for the air space around the wildfire WWF025 for air operations. All aircraft require permission to enter the air space. It is in effect until May 24 at 12:00hrs. Read more here.

Light amounts of rain are falling on the wildfire right now and it is expect to continue intermittently into tomorrow with rains becoming heavier tomorrow. Under these conditions, the fire is not expected to grow. The most up to date map of the wildfire is here

Today, firefighters along with water trucks and hand tools will continued to re-enforce the firegaurd on the south-sides of the wildfire. Heavy equipment worked on establishing fireguard on the west and north-sides. Helicopters supported crews by extinguishing large smoldering areas.

61 firefighters, 8 helicopters and various pieces of heavy equipment continue working to contain this wildfire.

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Image: Firefighters working to secure the fireguard by wetting down trees and brush on the ground on WWF-025.

Wildfire west of Highway 32 (WWF-026) - started at 9:17 p.m. May15. It is classified as UNDER CONTROL at 1.9 hectares in size and is located 10.5 kilometres north west of Carson-Pegasus Provincial Park; on the west-side of Highway 32. Firefighters will continue to monitor the site until it is fully extinguished.

 
For more information on the current wildfire situation in the province of Alberta, visit wildfire.alberta.ca.
  

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Smoke from the Iosegun Lake Fire has drifted across the Whitecourt Forest Area. It is forecast to be at it's highest density in the morning and will clear as the day progresses. If you have health concerns related to smoke inhalation from a wildfire, check Alberta Health Services website or call 811 for 24 hour health advice.

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 Image: Smoke forecast for the province of Alberta on May 18 at 4:00 a.m. 

 

 

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A Fire Ban is declared for the northern and central parts of the province of Alberta, including the Whitecourt Forest Area

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All existing Fire Permits are canceled in the Whitecourt Forest Area and no new fire permits will be issued until conditions improve. 

NOTE: The Fire Ban includes all counties, municipal districts and special areas, as well as provincial parks and recreation areas. It does not apply to cities, towns, villages, summer villages, or federal lands, such as national parks. A county or municipal district may decide to add additional restrictions – please check the new Alberta Fire Ban website for more information.

 
 

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The use of off-highway vehicles (OHV) for recreational use on all public lands within Whitecourt Forest Area and the northern and central portion of the province of Alberta are restricted to help prevent the spread of wildfires.

  • Off-highway vehicles are defined as any all-terrain vehicle (ATV), four-wheel vehicles, motorcycles and related two-wheel vehicles and amphibious machines.
  • If Albertan's are witnessing restricted OHV activities they can call the Report a Poacher Line at 1-800-642-3800.
  • For more information you can visit emergency.alberta.ca.


No one knows when an emergency will happen - but you can be prepared.

 

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Unless conditions change, your next update will be on May 19, 2016.

Shannon Stambaugh | Wildfire Information Officer
email: Shannon.Stambaugh@gov.ab.ca
office: 780-778-7273 | mobile: 780-706-5336
 
  
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