The wildfire hazard is MODERATE for the Whitecourt Forest Area. The current forecast is calling for warm temperatures and potential lightning. These conditions contribute to drying out the forest - increasing the potential for wildfire to ignite.
We need your help reporting and preventing wildfires -if you see smoke in the forest call 310-FIRE (3473).
JUNIOR FOREST RANGERS HELP FIRESMART!
Junior Forest Rangers in the Whitecourt Forest Area helped the Town of Whitecourt's summer FireSmart staff last week, helping to make an area of town FireSmart. Learn more about FireSmart here.
The Whitecourt Forest Area hosts one Junior Forest Ranger crews this year! Make sure to check out the Jiffer Journal and the JFR Facebook page to find out what the crews are up to this summer.
HANDY TIPS WHEN HAVING A CAMPFIRE...
Select your site - use a designated stove, ring or fire pit if possible. Use sites clear of dry grass, bushes, leave branches and other flammable vegetation.
Prepare your campfire - have the right tools including a shovel, axe and enough water to fully extinguish your campfire.
Extinguish your campfire - soak it, stir it, soak it again. When its out, you will not be able to feel any heat or see smoke.
TIPS WHEN USING AN OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE (OHV)
Grasses, branches and mud can build-up on your OHV, ignite, fall from your machine and start a wildfire. Prevent wildfires by keeping your machine debris free.
WILDFIRE UPDATE
Currently, there are no wildfires in the Whitecourt Forest Area. To date, there have been 32 wildfires that have burned 670.88 hectares in the Whitecourt Forest Area.
For information on the wildfire situation in the province of Alberta, visit wildfire.alberta.ca.
FIRE PERMITS
Help firefighters by getting a fire permit. Avoid a false alarm and make sure firefighters are where they are needed - not in your backyard.
A fire permit is required for any burning (except campfires) within the Forest Protection Area. If you are in the Whitecourt Forest Area, get the permit process started today by calling: 780-778-7272.
Tip: Check the weather forecast before you burn, do not burn if the wind speed is over 15 kilometres per hour. Learn more about how to prepare a burn site.
ALBERTA FIRE BANS
For information on current advisories, restrictions and fire bans in the province, visit the Alberta Fire Ban website at: beta.albertafirebans.ca and/or check local municipal websites for updates.
Unless conditions change, your next email update will be on July 29, 2016. For more frequent updates, check the Alberta Wildfire App for mobile Android or Apple products.
Shannon Stambaugh | Wildfire Information Officer
Whitecourt Forest Area
Email: Shannon.Stambaugh@gov.ab.ca
Office: 780-778-7273 | Mobile: 780-706-5336
