Whitecourt Area Update

New Wildfre South of the Town of Mayerthorpe | Whitecourt Forest Area

Posted on Fri, Apr 22, 2016

 gfx-hsb-wildfiredangerupdate-moderate.jpg

Wildfire Update

Whitecourt Forest Area | April 26 @ 3:00p.m.

Currently, there are no wildfires in the area. Firefighters are assisting other municipalities outside of the Forest Protection Area with four 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, 79 firefighters and one helicopter 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 nine firefighters assisting with this wildfire.   

    • Mayerthorpe Area Wildfire (WCU-004) is located approximately 2kilometres south west of the town of Mayerthorpe. Assistance was requested by Lac Ste. Anne County at approximately 3:00p.m. April 26. Currently, four firefighters, one helicopter andairtankers are assisting on this wildfire.
      • For more information on the wildfire, contact Lac Ste. Anne County at 780-785-3411 or 1-866-880-5722.
      • Alberta Emergency Alert
 
To date, there have been 13 wildfires in the Whitecourt Forest Area which have burned 7.25 hectares. At this time last year, there had been 6 wildfires and no requests for assistance from near-by municipalities. Please do your part and help prevent wildfires. Learn more about off-highway vehicles and campfires.

For information on wildfires across the province, visit Wildfire.Alberta.ca  To learn about Fire Advisories, Restrictions or Bans across the province, visit AlbertaFirebans.ca.

 

Wildfire Hazard 

Cooler temperatures and scattered rain showers over the past day reduced the wildfire hazard to MODERATE for the Whitecourt Forest Area. Today, temperatures will remain around 15 degrees Celsius, wind will be south east at 15 kilometres per hour. There is no rain in the forecast until later in the week. Until there is a significant amount of rain 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.

IMG_0321.jpg

Call 310-FIRE if you see smoke in the forest.

 

 

 

Fire Permits

Help firefighters by getting a fire permit. Avoid a false alarm and make sure firefighters are where they are needed, not in your backyard.

A fire permit is required for any burning (except campfires) within the Forest Protection Area. If you are in the Whitecourt Forest Area, and you want to do some burning call: 780-778-7272.

 

Make Sure Your Campfire is Safe

Campfire_wildfire_prevention.jpg

 
Unless conditions change, you can expect your next update on April 28, 2016.
 
Shannon Stambaugh | Wildfire Information Officer
Whitecourt Forest Area
email: shannon.stambaugh@gov.ab.ca
office: 780-778-7273 | mobile: 780-706-5336
 
alberta_wildire_logo.png
Visit us on FacebookTwitter or Instagram
Download the App for android or apple products.