High Wildfire Danger - Whitecourt Forest Area

WILDFIRE DANGER

The wildfire danger is high for Whitecourt Forest Area, due to large areas of dead, dry grass along roadways, and the forecast warm, dry, windy conditions.

Today, the temperature will be around 25 degrees Celsius, and the wind will be W-SW 20 km/hr becoming W-NW 20 km/hr in the afternoon. There is 40 per cent chance of rain over night, but the wind will remain N-NW 20 km/hr on Sunday.

Dry grass will ignite easily, creating a hard to control wildfire.

According to the conditions on a fire permit, burning is not allowed with wind speeds over 15 km/hr.

Please consider postponing the use of off-highway vehicles in snow-free areas, until grasses and leaves turn green. Learn more about off-highway vehicles and wildfire prevention.

Image: Near Fort Assiniboine, AB.

OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLES CAN START WILDFIRES

Grasses, branches and mud can build-up on any vehicle designed for off road use. The debris can ignite from the heat of the machine, fall off and start a wildfire.

Clean your machine, before, during, and after your ride.

Prevent a wildfire by:

Be prepared to take action. Carry a small shovel, collapsible pail, source of water or fire extinguisher with you on every ride.
Clean the machine before, during and after a ride. Keeping your machine debris free will prevent the exhaust system from causing a wildfire.
Strategically park the OHV on bare mineral soil if possible, do not park in areas of dead, dry grass.
Exit and check. When possible, drive out on the path you drove in on, allowing you to check for fires that may have started.

WILDFIRE SITUATION | April 28, 2018 at 10:00 a.m.

Whitecourt Forest Area

Currently there are zero wildfires in the Whitecourt Forest Area. Our firefighters are helping with one wildfire outside of the Forest Protection Area.

Since March 1, 2018, there has been 1 wildfire; with a total area burnt of 0.05 hectares.

Province of Alberta

For more information on the current wildfire situation across the province of Alberta, visit: wildfirestatus.alberta.ca

FIRE PERMITS ARE NOW REQUIRED

Free fire permits are required for any burning (except campfires) within the Forest Protection Area of Alberta.

If you need a fire permit in the Whitecourt Forest Area, call:

780-778-7272

Please call at least one week before you need a fire permit. Have ready the legal land location, planned start date, and a daytime phone number.

If you burn without a fire permit, or outside of the fire permit conditions, your fire is considered a wildfire. Learn about violation tickets for burning without a permit.

WILDFIRE PREVENTION PRESENTATION - NOW AVAILABLE FOR OIL & GAS COMPANIES

Have a member of Alberta Wildfire go to your workplace and present on wildfire prevention for oil & gas companies. For more information, or to schedule a presentation, contact: shawn.milne@gov.ab.ca.

Learn more about the Forest and Prairie Protection Act and associated regulations at: http://wildfire.alberta.ca/enforcement/fppa.aspx

ALBERTA WILDFIRE INFORMATION

Subscribe to the Whitecourt Forest Area Wildfire Update to receive an email when new local wildfire information is posted.
On the Web, get wildfire information for anywhere in Alberta by visiting: wildfirestatus.alberta.ca.
Download the Alberta Wildfire App for Apple or Android devices.
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