Whitecourt Area Update

Rain Drops Wildifre Hazard | Whitecourt Forest Area

Posted on Sat, Jul 30, 2016

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WILDFIRE HAZARD

The wildfire hazard is LOW for the Whitecourt Forest Area. Passing thunderstorms can produce lighting causing a wildfire, firefighters need your help reporting and preventing wildfires. If you see smoke in the forest call 310-FIRE (3473).

July_thunderstorms.jpg Image: Sky during one of the many thunderstorms passing through the Whitecourt Forest Area this July.

 

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Smoke is forecast to drift into the Whitecourt Forest Area today from a wildfire burning in the northern part of the Unitied States. 

If you have health concerns related to smoke inhalation from a wildfire, check Alberta Health Services website or call 811 for 24 hour health advice. 

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Image: Smoke forecast for August 3 at 5:00 p.m. Image taken from firesmoke.ca

 

TIPS WHEN HAVING A CAMPFIRE

Select your site - use a designated stove, ring or fire pit if possible. Use sites clear of dry grass, bushes, leave branches and other flammable vegetation.

Prepare your campfire - have the right tools including a shovel, axe and enough water to fully extinguish your campfire.

Extinguish your campfire - soak it, stir it, soak it again. When its out, you will not be able to feel any heat or see smoke.

Learn more here.

 

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OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLES

Grasses, branches and mud can build-up on your OHV, ignite, fall from your machine and start a wildfire. Prevent wildfires by keeping your machine debris free.

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LOCAL WILDFIRE UPDATE

In the last 24 hours, there have been no new wildfires - currently there are no wildfires in the Whitecourt Forest Area. Since April 1 2016, there have been 34 wildfires in the Area, burning a total of 670.90 hectares.

For information on the wildfire situation in the province of Alberta, visit wildfire.alberta.ca.

 

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, get the permit process started today by calling: 780-778-7272.

Tip: Check the weather forecast before you burn, do not burn if the wind speed is over 15 kilometres per hour. Learn more about how to prepare a burn site.

 

ALBERTA FIRE BANS

For information on current advisories, restrictions and fire bans in the province, visit the Alberta Fire Ban website at: beta.albertafirebans.ca and/or check local municipal websites for updates.

Note: incendiary targets can cause a wildfire, for this reason they have been restricted in the Province of Alberta until the end of wildfire season on October 31, 2016. 

 

Unless conditions change, your next email update will be on August 5, 2016.

For more frequent updates, check the Alberta Wildfire App for mobile Android orApple products. You can also bookmark the Whitecourt Wildfire Update or subscribe to have it emailed to you.

Shannon Stambaugh | Wildfire Information Officer
Whitecourt Forest Area
Email: Shannon.Stambaugh@gov.ab.ca
Office: 780-778-7273 | Mobile: 780-706-5336

 
  
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 wildfire.alberta.ca