Wildfire Safety Tips For The Long Weekend

Wildfire Hazard

The wildfire hazard is MODERATE for the Whitecourt Forest Area. Although some areas received rain, until there is a significant amount of water on the ground, the risk of a wildfire starting remains.

The forecast for today is for the wind to be southwest in direction at 20 kilometers an hour. There is a risk of a thunderstorm this afternoon, which can produce lightning.

Firefighters need your help reporting and preventing wildfires - if you see smoke in the forest call 310-FIRE (3473).

Image: Sky during one of the many thunderstorms passing through the Whitecourt Forest Area.

TIPS WHEN HAVING A CAMPFIRE...

Select your site - use a designated stove, ring or fire pit if possible. Use sites clear of dry grass, bushes, leave branches and other flammable vegetation.

Prepare your campfire - have the right tools including a shovel, axe and enough water to fully extinguish your campfire.

Extinguish your campfire - soak it, stir it, soak it again. When its out, you will not be able to feel any heat or see smoke.

Learn more here.

OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLES

Grasses, branches and mud can build-up on your OHV, ignite, fall from your machine and start a wildfire. Prevent wildfires by keeping your machine debris free.

LOCAL WILDFIRE UPDATE

In the last 24 hours, there was one wildfire that was quickly responded to and extinguished. Currently, there are no wildfires in the Whitecourt Forest Area. Since April 1 2016, there have been 34 wildfires in the Area, burning a total of 670.90 hectares.

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

FIRE PERMITS

Help firefighters by getting a fire permit. Avoid a false alarm and make sure firefighters are where they are needed - not in your backyard.

A fire permit is required for any burning (except campfires) within the Forest Protection Area. If you are in the Whitecourt Forest Area, get the permit process started today by calling: 780-778-7272.

Tip: Check the weather forecast before you burn, do not burn if the wind speed is over 15 kilometres per hour. Learn more about how to prepare a burn site.

ALBERTA FIRE BANS

For information on current advisories, restrictions and fire bans in the province, visit the Alberta Fire Ban website at: beta.albertafirebans.ca and/or check local municipal websites for updates.

Note: Incendiary targets can cause a wildfire, for this reason they have been restricted in the Province of Alberta until the end of wildfire season on October 31, 2016.

Unless conditions change, your next email update will be on August 5, 2016.

For more frequent updates, check the Alberta Wildfire App for mobile And roi d orA pp le products. You can also bookmark the Whitecourt Wildfire Update and subscribe to have it emailed to you.

Whitecourt Area Update