Wildfire Hazard
The wildfire hazard remains at HIGH in the Whitecourt Wildfire Management Area (WWMA). If a wildfire starts, it will burn deep into the ground and takes a lot of work to put out. Please do your part; be careful to not start a wildfire while working or recreating in the forest.
Weather
A high of 23 degrees Celsius today for the Whitecourt WMA, the wind direction will be west at 20 kilometres per hour, gusting up to 35 kilometres in the afternoon. Thunderstorm activity is expected to continue this evening, meaning the risk of lightning started wildfires remains high. Please report wildfires by calling 310-FIRE (3473).
Local Wildfires
As of July 15, 2015 at 11:00am, no communities are at risk from wildfires in the Whitecourt WMA. In the last 24 hours, there have been no new wildfires.
There are eight wildfires in the Whitecourt WMA:
- Whitecourt Wildfire 044 (WWF 044) started June 27, 2015 and is under control at 0.80 hectares in size and it is located 50 kilometres west of the town of Fox Creek.
- WWF 045 started July 1, 2015 and is under control at 32.38 hectares in size. We are expecting no further spread of this wildfire. It is 11 kilometres south of the town of Swan Hills, east of Highway 32.
- WWF 046 started July 3, 2015 and is under control at 0.33 hectares in size. It is located just over 14 kilometres north west of the town of Whitecourt, 6 kilometres west of Highway 32.
- WWF 050 is under control at 0.42 hectares in size. Located 30 kilometres north east of the town of Fox Creek.
- WWF 051 is under control at 0.38 hectares in size. Located 3 kilometres west of Freeman Lake; over 10 kilometres west of the town of Swan Hills.
- WWF 059 is under control at 0.05 hectares in size. It is located 18 kilometres east of Highway 32, just over 30 kilometres south east of the town of Swan Hills.
- WWF 062 is under control at 0.40 hectares in size. It is located just under 8 kilometres north of Highway 43; 19 kilometres east of the town of Fox Creek.
- WWF 063 is under control at 0.50 hectares in size, It is located just over 17 kilometres east of Highway 32; 26 kilometres north east of the town of Whitecourt.
Under control status means that no further spread of the wildfire is expected. Our firefighters continue to monitor these wildfires, looking for smoldering areas and extinguishing them. Since April 1, 2015, there have been 63 wildfires which have burned 67.52 hectares.
Provincial Wildfires
In the last 24 hours there have been 12 new wildfires. Alberta currently has 96 wildfires. 13 are out of control, 31 are being held, 52 are under control. Four wildfires have been extinguished within the last 24 hours.
Since April 1, 2015, Alberta has recorded 1,422 wildfires that have burned a total of 485,839.92 hectares.
Please visit our wildfire status map on our website at www.wildfire.alberta.ca or download the Alberta Wildfire App for more information on what is happening throughout the province.
The Whitecourt Wildfire Management Area is under a Fire Advisory.
What does this mean?
- Safe campfires ARE allowed in campgrounds and backcountry or random camping areas.
- Fire permits are now SUSPENDED and are no longer being issued until conditions change.
Other wildfire management areas within the Forest Protection Area (FPA) and some municipalities (including towns, summer villages, counties or provincial parks) have maintained or issued a new fire advisory, restriction or ban.
Please visit www.albertafirebans.ca to learn more.
How Can You Help?
Off-highway vehicles can start wildfires. While riding, stop frequently to check your vehicle for the build up of grass, branches or other debris. Safely remove the debris from your machine. 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.
Having a Campfire? Make sure your campfire is fully extinguished. A campfire can burn deep into the ground and flare up again in dry or windy weather. Soak the ashes and stir them. Keep soaking the ashes until they are cool to the touch. Even if you are going for a short hike, make sure your campfire is out. Learn more here.
