4 Quick Tips on How To Successfully Burn This Winter
- Build your burn pile at least 25 metres from trees and bushes and no more than 6 metres wide.
- Surround your burn site with a 15 metre wide firegaurd, preferably ground that is cleared down to the mineral soil.
- Carefully inspect the site in the days and weeks after your burn is complete to ensure it is completely out. If there are any hot areas, stir the debris and soak the ashes with water. Don't forget to check the ground for heat using a metal probe.
Image: Always burn within your control, if the
conditions aren't right, don't ignite.
Fire Permits
A fire permit is no longer required for burning inside the Forest Protection Area (FPA). This doesn't mean a wildfire can't start so we are asking you to be safe. We had a very dry summer and fall, the lack of water in the ground will allow a fire to burn deep. Even if you are just roasting a hot dog, that is a burn site. Make sure it is out, use lots of water or even snow!
Image: Taking a break from ice fishing
to roast a hotdog. Near Whitecourt AB.
One way you can help our firefighters over the winter is to contact us if you have any concerns about a winter burn you are completing or to report a winter burn location. Please call 780-778-7272.
Anytime of the year, call 310-FIRE (3743) to report a wildfire.
Whitecourt Forest Area | January 22 @ 11am
Currently, there are no wildfires in the Whitecourt Forest Area (FA). Since April 1, 2015 there have been 93 wildfires that have burned 71.42 hectares. This is the highest number of starts in the Whitecourt Forest Area in the last five years. Thanks to the quick response and hard work of firefighters, the largest wildfire was 31 hectares in size. This is substantially below what we consider a large wildfire (normally 200 hectares in size).
Shannon Stambaugh | Wildfire Information Officer
Whitecourt Wildfire Management Area
office: 780.778.7273 | mobile: 780.706.5336
