As of May 30, 2017 a fire advisory is in effect for the Whitecourt Forest Area. The advisory is in place due to the forecast warm, dry, windy conditions.
Current fire permits are suspended and no new permits will be issued until conditions improve. Small, safe cooking and warming fires are allowed - take the time to ensure your campfire is completely extinguished.
WILDFIRE HAZARD UPDATE
The first part of the day will be warm and dry with wind south east in direction at 15 kilometers per hour. Rain and associated thunderstorms are forecast for later in the day. Lighting is in the forecast. Until there is a significant amount of rain on the ground, the wildfire hazard will remain high for the Whitecourt Forest Area.
If you see smoke in the forest, call 310-FIRE (3473).
LOCAL WILDFIRE UPDATE
May 31 at 8:00 a.m.
There are two active wildfires in the Whitecourt Forest Area. Thanks to the hard work of firefighters, both are now classified as under control.
- Wildfire number 13 is located just over 13 kilometers east of the Town on Whitecourt. It was discovered on May 28 at 4:40 p.m. The wildfire is classified as under control at 0.35 hectares - no further growth will occur. Firefighters will monitor the site until the wildfire is fully extinguished.
- Wildfire number 14 is located 19 kilometers north west of Carson-Pegasus Provincial Park (west of highway 32). The wildfire was discovered on May 28 at 7:40 p.m. and is currently under control at 8.3 hectares. Under control status means the wildfire will not grow any further. 16 firefighters, one helicopter and various pieces of heavy equipment will continue to work towards extinguishing the wildfire.
Since the start of the 2017 wildfire season, there have been 14 wildfires that have burned 9.24 hectares in the Whitecourt Forest Area.
PROVINCIAL WILDFIRE UPDATE
May 30 at 11:00 a.m.
There are currently 16 wildfires in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta. Five wildfires are being held, seven are under control and four have been turned over to the responsible parties.
Since March 1, 2017, Alberta has recorded 389 wildfires in the Forest Protection Area that have burned a total of 1,048.70 hectares.
For information on the wildfire situation across the province of Alberta, visit wildfire.alberta.ca.
FIRE PERMITS ARE CURRENTLY SUSPENDED
As of March 1, a free fire permit is required for all burning (except for campfires) within the Forest Protection Area of Alberta. For more information call:
- Whitecourt patrolman at 780-778-1590 or
- Whitecourt Fire Centre at 780-778-7272
As of March 31, 2017 new penalties now exist for failure to produce a fire permit when requested by a forest officer, read more here.
OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLES CAN START WILDFIRES
Quick tips on how you can prevent a wildfire while using an Off-highway vehicle:
- Remove debris - keeping 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.
NEW FINES ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF CAMPFIRES
You do not require a fire permit for a cooking or warming fire in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta. As of March 1, 2017 leaving a campfire unattended will result in a fine of $287 under the Forest Prairie and Protection Act.
If an individual does not properly extinguish a fire and it starts a wildfire they can be charged up to $100,000 or face imprisonment for up to two years. Read more here.
Learn about other enhancements made to the Forest and Prairie Protection Act (FPPA) regulations on March 31, 2017. Learn about the changes and the associated fines here.
Unless conditions change, your next wildfire update will be on June 1, 2017.
Shannon Stambaugh
Wildfire Information Officer
Whitecourt Forest Area
Mobile: 780-706-5336
Email: shannon.stambaugh@gov.ab.ca
