Whitecourt Area Update

Extreme Wildfire Hazard - Whitecourt Forest Area - June 8, 2017

Posted on Thu, Jun 08, 2017

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WILDFIRE HAZARD UPDATE

The warm, dry weather trend continues. Today, the wind is southeast in direction at 30 kilometers per hour, gusting up to 50 kilometers per hour. These factors push the wildfire hazard to extreme for the Whitecourt Forest Area. Under these conditions, a wildfire can start easily and grow quickly into a large, erratic-behaving wildfire.  

A significant amount of rain is expected to fall on Friday and into the weekend. Until it is actually on the ground, it is necessary to take extra steps to prevent a wildfire when out working or recreating in the forest.

 

AREA WILDFIRE UPDATE 10:00 a.m., June 8, 2017

In the past 24 hours, there was one new wildfire in the Whitecourt Forest Area. Currently, two wildfires are active. Wildfire number 15 has been turned over to the responsible party. Wildfire number 14 is currently under control, the details follow: 

  • Wildfire number 14 is located 19 kilometers northwest of Carson-Pegasus Provincial Park (west of highway 32). The wildfire was discovered on May 28 at 7:40 p.m. It is classified as under control which means it will not grow any further - it remains 8.30 hectares in size. Firefighters will continue to monitor the site until it is fully extinguished.

Since the start of the 2017 wildfire season, there have been 15 wildfires that have burned 10.01 hectares in the Whitecourt Forest Area.

 

PROVINCIAL WILDFIRE UPDATE 10:00 a.m., June 8, 2017

There are currently 15 wildfires in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta. Three wildfires are being held, nine are under control and three have been turned over to the responsible parties.

Since March 1, 2017, Alberta has recorded 507 wildfires in the Forest Protection Area that have burned a total of 2,166.91 hectares.

For information on the wildfire situation across the province of Alberta, visit the provincial wildfire status map.

 

 

FIRE PERMITS

As of March 1, a free fire permit is required for all burning (except for campfires) within the Forest Protection Area of Alberta. To get started call:

  • Whitecourt patrolman at 780-778-1590 or
  • Whitecourt Fire Centre at 780-778-7272

Burning is not recommended when the wind is 15 kilometers per hour or higher. Make sure you are abiding by the conditions on your fire permit.

Penalties now exist for failure to produce a fire permit when requested by a forest officer, read more here.

 

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OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLES CAN START WILDFIRES

Quick tips on how you can prevent a wildfire while using an Off-highway vehicle:

  • Remove debris - keep your machine debris free by checking it before, during and after a ride.
  • Strategic parking - park your OHV on bare mineral soil if possible, do not park it in areas of dead, dry grass. 
  • Exit and check - when possible, drive out on the path you drove in on. This will help you check for fires that may have started.

Read more here

 

If you see smoke in the forest, call 310-FIRE (3473). 

Unless conditions change, your next wildfire update will be on June 9, 2017.

Shannon Stambaugh
Wildfire Information Officer
Whitecourt Forest Area
Mobile: 780-706-5336
Email: shannon.stambaugh@gov.ab.ca

 

Stay current on Alberta's wildfire situation, download the Alberta Wildfire mobile app for Android or Apple products. You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
 
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