Wildfire Hazard
The wildfire hazard is LOW in the Whitecourt Wildfire Management Area (WWMA).
Local Wildfires
September 2, 2015 at 11:00 am
In the last 24 hours, there have been no new wildfires in the Whitecourt WMA
Since April 1, 2015 there have been 87 wildfires that have burned 70.24 hectares. To date, 33 wildfires in the Whitecourt WMA were caused by human activity, meaning almost half of them were preventable. Please do your part and help prevent wildfires.
Provincial Wildfires
Septemeber 2, 2015 at 11:00 am
In the last 24 hours there has been one new wildfire. Alberta currently has 37 wildfires. Thirty-three are under control and four have been turned over to the responsible party.
Since April 1, 2015, Alberta has recorded 1,674 wildfires that have burned a total of 490,897.83 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.
Image: Recent lighting-caused wildfires in the Whitecourt WMA.
Weather
Temperatures will be around 15 degrees Celsius for the rest of the week; winds will reaming light. Scattered thunderstorms are expected; meaning the chance for a lighting-started wildfire continues. If you see smoke in the forest call 310-FIRE (3473).
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.
Local Representative Workshops
YOU ARE INVITED! Workshops have have been developed to help community leaders and fire professionals become familiar with and implement all components of the FireSmart Community Recognition Program. Learn more here.
Oct. 21-22, 2105 Lac La Biche
Date: Wednesday October 21 and Thursday October 22 (8:00 am to 4:30 pm)
Location: Lakeland Agricom, 13412 Hwy 881, Lac La Biche County, Alberta
Register now!
Oct. 27 to 28, 2015 County of Grande Prairie No. 1
Date: Tuesday October 27 – Wednesday October 28 (8:00 am to 4:30 pm)
Location: Evergreen Park, 55051 Twp Rd 710, County of Grande Prairie No. 1 (3 ½ kilometres south along Resources Road)
Register now!
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? With the forecast wind gusts, an unattended campfire is likely to escape, growing into a wildfire fire quickly. Make sure your campfire is fully extinguished, even if you are going for a short hike, make sure your campfire is out. Learn more here.
Unless conditions change, you can expect your next wildfire update September 4, 2015.
Shannon Stambaugh | Wildfire Information Officer
Whitecourt Wildfire Management Area
office: 780.778.7273 | mobile: 780.706.5336
