Whitecourt Forest Area Wildfire Update

WILDFIRE HAZARD UPDATE

Dry, windy conditions keep the wildfire hazard high for the Whitecourt Forest Area. There has been no significant amounts of rain in the past few days and the wind today will be northwest in direction at 20 kilometers per hour, gusting to 35 kilometers per hour.

Under these conditions, a wildfire will start easily and spread quickly. Please take the necessary steps to prevent a wildfire while out enjoying or working in the forest.

See today's wildfire hazard map here.

HUNTING SEASON IS HERE - Do you know your campfire responsibilities?

If you are having a cooking or warming fire while in the forest:

Never leave a fire unattended - if you do, you can be issued a violation ticket of $287 under the Forest Prairie and Protection Act.
Completely extinguish your campfire before you leave it. Soak it, stir it, soak it again. You will know it's out when the ashes are cool to the touch and there is no visible steam or smoke. Learn more.

Information on hunting in Alberta can be found at albertaregulations.ca. If you are new to hunting, read more here.

WILDFIRE SITUATION - September 1, 2017 at 10:00 a.m.

Whitecourt Forest Area

There are no wildfires in the Whitecourt Forest Area; the last wildfire in the Area was on August 18, 2017. Since the start of the 2017 wildfire season, there have been 26 wildfires that have burned 11.41 hectares in the Forest Area.

Province of Alberta

There are currently 19 wildfires in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta.

3 wildfires have a status of out of control, 5 are being held, 6 are under control and 2 have been turned over to the responsible parties.

Since March 1, 2017, Alberta has recorded 1,108 wildfires in the Forest Protection Area that have burned a total of 20,559.77 hectares. For information visit the provincial wildfire status map.

SMOKE IN THE AIR

Smoke continues to drift into the area from wildfires burning in British Columbia and the United States. To see the latest smoke forecast, go to www.firesmoke.ca

If you are experiencing respiratory difficulties as a result of smoke from a wildfire, visit Alberta Health Services or call 811 for 24-hour health advice.

FIRE PERMITS

Burning is not recommended when the wind speed is greater than 15 kilometers per hour. Please abide by the conditions of your fire permit.

During the Wildfire Season, (March 1- October 31) a free fire permit is required for all burning (except for campfires) within the Forest Protection Area of Alberta. To get started call:

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

A voliation ticket of $287 can be issued for the failure to produce a fire permit when requested by a forest officer. For more information, visit fppa.alberta.ca.

OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLES (OHV) CAN START WILDFIRES

TO prevent a wildfire while riding an OHV:

Remove debris - keep your machine free of debris (ex. grass, branches, mud) by checking hotspots before, during and after your ride. Learn more.
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 from the machine.

Learn more.

Image: Keeping wheels out of water.while removing debris from hotspots on an OHV.

FIRESMART IN THE FALL

Living in forested areas means we need to be aware of the wildfire risk associated with it. There are ways you can take action to make your home and community FireSmart. Here are some quick and easy ideas to help you get started:

Remove debris from your eaves. Sparks and embers can easily ignite these materials.
Store firewood a minimum of 10 metres from any structure.
Close in any exposed eaves, vents and soffits on your home.
Mow and water grass within 10 metres of a building.

Learn more at firesmartcanada.ca

To report a wildfire in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta, call 310-FIRE (3473).

Unless conditions change, your next wildfire update will be at 11:00 a.m. on September 2, 2017.

Whitecourt Area Update

Whitecourt Forest Area Wildfire Update - September 1, 2017