What Burning Activity is Currently Restricted?
The Whitecourt Wildfire Management Area does not have a fire ban, restriction or advisory in place. This means in most parts of the Whitecourt Wildfire Management Area, safe campfires and burning are allowed at this time.
Other management areas within the Forest Protection Area and some municipalities (including towns, summer villages, counties or provincial parks) have maintained their fire advisory, restriction or ban. Please visit www.albertafirebans.ca to ensure that there is no fire ban or restriction in your area before burning.
Fire Permits
BEFORE YOU BURN IT, GET YOUR PERMIT
If you want to do any burning within the Forest Protection Area (FPA); you need to get a fire permit for any burning, excluding campfires.
- Fire permits are free. To get the process started call 780-778-7272.
- Please call a week in advance of when you would like to burn in order to give our staff time to make arrangements to come out to your site and issue your permit.
- Fore efficiency, please have your site ready according to the burning site guidelines. before staff arrive. For your safety, a site visit is required in most cases.
- All permits must be completely extinguished before they expire, if you need more information make sure to ask.
Local Wildfires (June 15)
There is one wildfire in the Whitecourt WMA.
WWF-041Location: Over 44 kilometers southeast of the town of Swan Hills or just over 12 kilometers north of Secondary Highway 661.
Status: Under Control; meaning we are expecting no further spread of this wildfire.
Size: 2.80 hectares in size.
Current activity on wildfire: The wildfire started from lighting on June 12th. Nine firefighters continue working to find smoldering areas within the burn and are working to extinguish the burning areas.
Since April 1, 2015, there have been 41 wildfires which have burned 29.78 hectares.
Provincial Wildfires
Alberta currently has 35 wildfires. One is out of control, six are being held, 26 are under control and two have been turned over to the responsible party.
- Provincial wildfires of note:
- EWF-054 also known as the Rockslide Creek Wildfire is considered out of control and is located approximately 40 km south of Grande Cache. There are 39 firefighters and 10 helicopters fighting this 14,000 hectare wildfire. Area Update
- LWF-122 also known as the Burnt Lake Wildfire is being held and is located approximately 40 kilometres north of Cold Lake in the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range. There are 126 firefighters, seven helicopters and 17 pieces of heavy equipment fighting this 31,997 hectare wildfire.Area update
- HWF-157 also known as the Harper Creek Wildfire is being held and is located approximately 18 kilometres south of Fox Lake. There are 164 firefighters and eight helicopters fighting this 6,420 hectare wildfire.Area update
Alberta currently has 34 wildfires. Four are out of control, five are being held, 22 are under control and three have been turned over to the responsible party.
Ask A Firefighter!
How do you properly put out a campfire? Here's the answer in this short video!
How Can You Help?
If you are using an an Off-highway Vehicle during your day, periodically stop and check your vehicle for the build up of grass, branches or debris. This material can catch fire and drop from your vehicle as you drive; acting like a drip-torch it can start a wildfire. Learn more here.
Unless conditions change, you can expect your next wildfire update June 19th.
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Shannon Stambaugh | Wildfire Information Officer
Whitecourt Wildfire Management Area
mobile: 780.706.5336