Fire Permit Information
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, get started today by calling: 780-778-7272.
Help firefighters by getting a fire permit. Avoid a false alarm and make sure firefighters are where they are needed, not in your backyard.
Photo: Fire permit being issued by Agriculture and Forestry staff.
Wildfire Hazard
The spring wildfire hazard is here in the Whitecourt Forest Area. Snow continues to melt, exposing dry grasses and branches on the ground. This fine material catches fire quickly and will spread fast - increasing the risk of a wildfire. If you see smoke in the forest call 310-FIRE.
Check Where you Burned This Winter - Every Fire Counts.
Please go back and check your burn sites (including campfires) now to make sure they were properly put out. A fire can burn silently underground over the winter and when the conditions are right, it can spring back to life, starting a wildfire.
When you get to the burn site:
- Roll woody material over, probe both it and the ground. You are searching for smoldering material, smoke or heat. Use your bare hand to check for heat.
- Be thorough and walk around the entire burn site.
- If you find hot areas in the ground, or wood that is still smoldering, stop. Soak it ,stir it and soak it again. If it is in the ground, dig into the soil and repeat until there is no heat.
Photo: Firefighter putting out a wildfire, Februrary 2015.
Wildfire Updates
Whitecourt Forest Area | March 11 @ 10am
Currenlty, there are no wildfires in the Whitecourt Forest Area. Since April 1, 2015 there have been 96 wildfires that have burned 73.10 hectares.
Provincial Update | March 11 @ 10am
- In the last week there have been four new wildfires. Three are under control and one has been turned over to the responsible party,
- Alberta currently has 23 wildfires. 12 are under control and 11 have been turned over to the responsible party.
- Since April 1, 2015, Alberta has recorded 1,851 wildfires that have burned a total of 492,529.63 hectares.
For information on wildfires across the province, visit Wildfire.Alberta.ca
We want to hear from you!
Alberta Agriculture and Forestry’s Wildfire Management Branch is seeking input on proposed amendments to the Forest and Prairie Protection Act and associated regulations. You do not need to be familiar with the legislation and regulations to complete the survey.
Here is the link: https://extranet.gov.ab.ca/opinio6//s?s=27402
The goals of the proposed legislative and regulatory amendments are to:
- Update the fine levels and structure to align with other similar provincial legislation,
- Clarify wording to better reflect and support current operational practices in the field, and
- Complete any required consequential administrative amendments (e.g. terminology and form updates)
A discussion paper is attached to the survey providing further detail on the proposed amendments. There is also the opportunity to suggest additional amendments at the end of the survey; the closing date is Friday, April 15, 2016.
Unless conditions change, you can expect your next update on March 22, 2016.
Whitecourt Forest Area
office: 780.778.7273 | mobile: 780.706.5336
