Rain and cooler temperatures are keeping the wildfire hazard at 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).
Image: Watching a passing thunderstorm at a lookout tower during one of the many thunderstorms passing through the Whitecourt Forest Area. Did you know there are 127 lookout towers across Alberta? Learn more here.
CLEAN YOUR RIDE
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.
PUT OUT YOUR 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.
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 36 wildfires in the Area, that have burned just over 670 hectares.
For information on the wildfire situation in the province of Alberta, visit wildfire.alberta.ca.
72 HOUR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS KIT 
In an emergency, you will need some basic supplies. The wildfire emergency preparedness guide is here. To learn more about emergency preparedness, visit GetPrepared.ca. You can also download the Alberta Emergency Alert App for Android or Apple products.
Unless conditions change, your next email update will be on August 12, 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.
Leah Lovequist -Wildfire Information Officer
Mobile: 780.849.0945
Email: Leah.Lovequist@gov.ab.ca
