Whitecourt Area Update

Wildfire Hazard

Warm, windy conditions over the past few days has pushed the wildfire hazard up to HIGH for the Whitecourt Wildfire Management Area (WWMA).

Please keep in mind that the lack of rain over the last few months has dried the forest. If a wildfire starts, it will burn deep into the ground and takes a lot of work to put out. Please do your part; be careful to not start a wildfire while working or recreating in the forest. 

Weather

We will reach a high of 20 degrees Celsius today, the wind is north west in direction at 15 kilometres per hour. Thunderstorm activity is expected to continue, bringing small amounts of rain. The risk of of lightning started wildfires remains high. Please report wildfires by calling 310-FIRE (3473). 

Local Wildfires (July 30, 2015 @ 11:00am)

In the last 24 hours, there have been three new wildfires in the Whitecourt WMA. Currently, five wildfires are under control; meaning no further spread of the wildfires are expected. Here are the details:

• Wildfire number 45 located 11 kilometres south of the town of Swan Hills, east of Highway 32 (legal land location: 4-6-65-9-W5) This wildfire started July 1, 2015 and is under control at 32.38 hectares in size, it has not grown since July 2.  
  
  
• Wildfire number 50 located 30 kilometers north east of the town of Fox Creek (legal land location: 10-8-65-17-W5) is under control at 0.42 hectares in size.
  
  
• Wildfire number 72 located 30 kilometres north east of the town of Whitecourt; 21 kilometres east of Highway 32 (legal land location: 11-10-62-14-W5) is under control at 1.30 hectares in size.
  
  
• Wildfire number 73 located 13 kilometres north east of the town of Whitecourt; 2.5 kilometres east of Highway 32 (legal land location: 5-16-61-12-W5) is under control at 0.10 hectares in size.
  
  
• Wildfire number 75 located 22 kilometres south west of the town of Swan Hills (legal location: 13-26-64-12-W5) is under control at 0.10 hectares in size.

These wildfires are being monitored by firefighters, they are looking for smoldering areas and will continue to extinguish them. 

Provincial Wildfires (July 30, 2015 @ 11:00am)

In the last 24 hours there have been seven new wildfires. Alberta currently has 77 wildfires, 17 are being held, 58 are under control and two have been turned over to the responsible party. One wildfire has been extinguished in the last 24 hours.

Since April 1, 2015, Alberta has recorded 1,511 wildfires that have burned a total of 486,753.87 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.

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 maintained their fire advisory, restriction or ban. Please visit www.albertafirebans.ca to ensure that there is not a fire ban or restriction in your area before burning.

How Can You Help?

Off-highway vehicles can start wildfires. While riding, stop frequently to check your vehicle for the build up of grass, branches or other debris. Safely remove the debris from your machine. This material can catch fire and drop from your vehicle as you drive; acting like a drip-torch it can start a wildfire. 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.

Unless conditions change, you can expect your next wildfire update July 31.

Shannon Stambaugh | Wildfire Information Officer
office:  780.778.7273
mobile: 780.706.5336

Visit us on Facebook, Twitter or download our Alberta Wildfire App or 
download the App for android or apple product.