Wildfire Hazard
Winds are expecting to gust up to 40 kilometres per hour today, increasing the wildfire hazard to HIGH for the Whitecourt Wildfire Management Area (WWMA).
Smoke in the Air
Smoke is expected to continue to drift into the Whitecourt WMA; the smoke is coming from wildfires burning in the United States. If you have smoke-related health concerns please contact Alberta Health Link by dialing 811 or visit their website at: http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/11378.asp.
Weather
We will reach a high of 25 degrees Celsius today, wind direction will be south west at 20 kilometres per hour, gusting up to 40 kilometres per hour. Check your fire permit before burning, when winds reach 15 kilometres per hour burning is not permitted. Under windy conditions a fire can grow and spread, quickly becoming a wildfire.
Scattered thunderstorms are forecast; meaning the chance for a lighting-started wildfire continues. If you see smoke in the forest call 310-FIRE (3473).
Local Wildfires
August 27, 2015 at 11:15 am
In the last 24 hours, there has been one new wildfire in the Whitecourt WMA. Whitecourt Wildfire 81 (Legal Land Location: 6-23-60-10-W5) was quickly extinguished by the hard work of firefighters.
Since April 1, 2015 there have been 81 wildfires that have burned 69.70 hectares.
Provincial Wildfires
August 27, 2015 at 11:15 am
There have been three new wildfires in the last 24 hours. Alberta currently has 40 wildfires. One is being held, 37 are under control and two have been turned over to the responsible party. Two wildfires have been extinguished in the last 24 hours.
Since April 1, 2015, Alberta has recorded 1,651 wildfires that have burned a total of 490,908.89 hectares. For more information, please visit the wildfire status map on our website at www.wildfire.alberta.ca; or you can download the Alberta Wildfire App for android or apple products.
Be Wildfire-Smart
Off-highway vehicles can start wildfires. Take the time to remove the buildup of grass, branches or other debris from your machine. This material can ignite, fall from your machine and start a wildfire. Areas of most concern include: exhaust and muffler systems, wheel wells, under the seat and in the engine and manifold systems. 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.
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Fire Permits
BEFORE YOU BURN IT, GET YOUR PERMIT
If you want to do any burning, excluding campfires within the Forest Protection Area (FPA); you need to get a fire permit:
- Fire permits are free. To get the process started call 780-778-7272.
- Please call a week in advance of when you would like to burn in order to give our staff time to make arrangements to come out to your site and issue your permit.
- Fore efficiency, please have your site ready according to the burning site guidelines. before staff arrive. For your safety, a site visit is required in most cases.
- All permits must be completely extinguished before they expire, if you need more information make sure to ask.
Alberta Fire Bans
The Whitecourt Wildfire Management Area does not have a fire ban, restriction or advisory in place. This means in most parts of the Whitecourt WMA, safe campfires and burning are allowed at this time.
Other management areas within the Forest Protection Area (FPA) and some municipalities (including towns, summer villages, counties or provincial parks) have a fire advisory, restriction or ban in place. Please visit www.albertafirebans.ca to ensure that there is not a fire ban or restriction in your area before burning.
What Firefighters do When not Fighting Wildfires?
Can you guess three things that firefighters do when not on the fireline? Find the answer here.
Unless conditions change, you can expect your next wildfire update August 28, 2015.
Shannon Stambaugh | Wildfire Information Officer
Whitecourt Wildfire Management Area
office: 780.778.7273 | mobile: 780.706.5336
