Whitecourt Area Update

Wildfire Hazard

Rain and lower temperatures have reduced the wildfire hazard to LOW in the Whitecourt Wildfire Management Area (WWMA).  

Are you going hunting? When having a fire to cook lunch or to warm-up, make sure your fire is completely extinguished. It doesn't matter how small the fire is, if it is not out, it can grow. Soak it, stir it, soak it again; it should be cool to the touch. Learn more here.

Local Wildfire Summary
September 22, 2015 at 11:00 am

In the last 24 hours, there have been no new wildfires in the Whitecourt WMA

Since April 1, 2015 there have been 87 wildfires that have burned 70.29 hectares. To date, 34 wildfires in the Whitecourt WMA were caused by humans when out working or recreating in the forest. This means almost half of them were preventable, please do your part and help prevent wildfires.

Provincial Wildfire Summary
September 22, 2015 at 11:00 am

Alberta currently has 35 active wildfires in the province; thirty-three wildfires are classified as under control and two have been turned over to the responsible party. Since April 1, 2015, Alberta has recorded 1,705 wildfires that have burned a total of 491,800.00 hectares. 

For more information, please visit the wildfire status map on our website at www.wildfire.alberta.ca; or you can download the Alberta Wildfire App for android or apple products. 

Be Wildfire-Smart

Off-highway vehicles can start wildfires. Take the time to remove the buildup of grass, branches or other debris from your machine. This material can ignite, fall from your machine and start a wildfire. Areas of most concern include: exhaust and muffler systems, wheel wells, under the seat and in the engine and manifold systems. Learn more here.

3 Simple Ways to Take Action Against Forest Fires! 

Protecting your home from wildfire starts with simple actions. Whether you are doing regular yard maintenance or making large scale changes during renovations or landscaping, you can make choices that will help protect your home from wildfire.

While cleaning up your yard this fall, consider these simple FireSmart measures that cost very little and can help reduce the vulnerability of your home to wildfire:

• Store firewood a minimum of 10 meters away from any structure (avoid down slope location).
• Remove combustible trees, long grass, shrubs, logs, branches, twigs and needles within 10 meters of your home.
• Clean eavestroughs of leaf and branch debris.

Can you do more? Visit FireSmartCanada.ca to find other ideas.

Unless conditions change, you can expect your next wildfire update September 29, 2015.