Whitecourt Area Update

Two Active Wildfires - Whitecourt Forest Area - May 29, 2017

Posted on Mon, May 29, 2017

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WILDFIRE HAZARD UPDATE

The wildfire hazard is high for the Whitecourt Forest Area and it will be trending up for the next few days. Today, the weather remains warm and dry with the wind east in direction at 20 kilometres per hour. 

Please check your fire permits and make sure you are abiding by the permit conditions. If you see smoke in the forest, call 310-FIRE (3473)

 

LOCAL WILDFIRE UPDATE
May 29, 2017 at 11:00a.m.

In the last 24 hours, there have been three new wildfires in the Whitecourt Forest Area. Two wildfires are currently active:

  • Wildfire number 13 located just over 13 kilometres east of the Town on Whitecourt started May 28 just after 4:30 p.m. Thanks to the hard work of firefighters, the wildfire is classified as under control at 0.1 hectares - no further growth will occur. Firefighters will return to the site to ensure it is fully extinguished. 
  • Wildfire number 14 located west of Highway 32,  just over 19 kilometres north west of Carson-Pegasus Provincial Park started May 28 just after 7:30 p.m. The wildfire is being held at 5.0 hectares, this means the wildfire is not expected to grow past it's current boundaries. No communities or structures are threatened. 16 firefighters, one helicopter and various pieces of heavy equipment will continue to work towards extinguishing the wildfire.

 

Since the start of the 2017 wildfire season, there have been 14 wildfires that have burned 5.69 hectares in the Whitecourt Forest Area.

 

PROVINCIAL WILDFIRE UPDATE
May 29, 2017 at 11:00a.m.

There are currently 15 wildfires in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta. One wildfire is being held, eight are under control and six have been turned over to the responsible parties.

Since March 1, 2017, Alberta has recorded 380 wildfires in the Forest Protection Area that have burned a total of 810.27 hectares.

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

 

FIRE PERMITS

As of March 1, a free fire permit is required for all burning (except for campfires) within the Forest Protection Area of Alberta. Get started by calling:

  • Whitecourt patrolman at 780-778-1590 or
  • Whitecourt Fire Centre at 780-778-7272

As of March 31, 2017 new penalties now exist for failure to produce a fire permit when requested by a forest officer, read more here.

 

 

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OPERATING AN OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE?

Off-highway vehicle exhaust systems can heat up to temperatures in excess of 204 degrees Celsius - hot enough to fry an egg, melt your pants or start a wildfire. At these temperatures, grass, moss, branches or other debris that have built up on your machine can heat up, smoulder and ignite - falling off the machine and start a wildfire.

Prevent a wildfire with these easy tips:

  • Remove debris - keeping your machine debris free by checking it before, during and after a ride.
  • Strategic parking - park your OHV on bare mineral soil if possible, do not park it in areas of dead, dry grass. 
  • Exit and check - when possible, drive out on the path you drove in on. This will help you check for fires that may have started.

 

NEWS FROM ALBERTA WILDFIRE

Enhancements were made to the Forest and Prairie Protection Act (FPPA) regulations on March 31, 2017. Learn about the changes and the associated fines here.

 

Unless conditions change, your next wildfire update will be on May 30, 2017.

Shannon Stambaugh
Wildfire Information Officer
Whitecourt Forest Area
Mobile: 780-706-5336
Email: shannon.stambaugh@gov.ab.ca

Stay current on Alberta's wildfire situation, download the Alberta Wildfire mobile app for Android or Apple products. You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
 
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 wildfire.alberta.ca