Fire Permits Cancelled, Very High Wildfire Hazard

Fire Advisory in Effect

Due to the warm, dry weather trend, a Fire Advisory is in place for the Whitecourt Forest Area.

Current Fire Permits are cancelled, except for those issued for seasonal burn barrels and incinerators. Please check the conditions of your permit before you burn.
No new permits will be issued until conditions change.
Safe campfires are still allowed but are not recommended until weather conditions change.

The Advisory will remain in place until conditions improve. If you have questions about Fire Permits within the Whitecourt Forest Area, call 780-778-7272.

Burning activities may become restricted in the coming days if conditions worsen. For more information on Fire Advisories, Restrictions or Bans across the province, visit AlbertaFirebans.ca.

Learn more about the Fire Ban System and how it is used to notify you of potential impacts for burning or camping.

Wildfire Update

Whitecourt Forest Area Wildfire Update | April 29 @ 10:00 a.m.

Currently, there is one wildfire in the Whitecourt Forest Area:

Anselmo Area Wildfire (WWF-014) is currently UNDER CONTROL at 1.50 hecatres in size. It is located just over 12 kilometres west of the Town of Mayerthorpe. Firefighters will continue to monitor the wildfire until it is extinguished.

Firefighters are also assisting other municipalities outside of the Forest Protection Area with two wildfires:

Duffield Area Wildfires (WCU-001/WIR-001) these two wildfires are located in the area of Duffield, Alberta. Assistance was requested by both Parkland County and Wabamun Indian Reserve No. 133A on April 17. Currently, 80 firefighters are assisting with these wildfires.
Onoway Area Wildfire (WCU-002) is located approximately 24 kilometres north west of St. Albert, Alberta. Assistance was requested at 10:00 pm on April 18 by Lac Ste. Anne County. There are 25 firefighters assisting with this wildfire.

To date, there have been 14 wildfires in the Whitecourt Forest Area which have burned 8.75 hectares.

Provincial Wildfire Update | April 29 @10:00 a.m.

In the last 24 hours there has been 10 new wildfires in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta. One is being held, three are under control and six have been extinguished.
There are currently 15 wildfires in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta. One is being held, eight are under control and six have been turned over to the responsible party.
Since April 1, 2016, Alberta has recorded 257 wildfires in the Forest Protection Area that have burned a total of 544.96 hectares.
Agriculture and Forestry is currently assisting with four wildfires outside the Forest Protection Area.

For more information on wildfires across the province, visit AlbertaWildfire.ca

Wildfire Hazard

Warm temperatures and lack of rain keep the wildfire hazard at VERY HIGH for the Whitecourt Forest Area. Today, temperatures will remain around 13 degrees Celsius, wind will be southeast in direction at 20 kilometres per hour, wind gusts are expected to return tomorrow. Although a chance of rain is in the forecast for today, until there is a significant amount of water on the ground, the forest remains dry.

Areas of dry grass and branches pose the most significant risk of wildfire. Wildfire in these areas will start easily and spread quickly, making it very hard for firefighters to control.