Dry Conditions Maintain the Wildfire Hazard

The warm, dry trend is maintaining the wildfire hazard at MODERATE for the Whitecourt Forest Area. Rain is expected in the forecast for early next week which will help to decrease the fire hazard.

Firefighters need your help reporting and preventing wildfires. If you see smoke in the forest call 310-FIRE (3473).

Image: Amazing August sky. A view from a lookout tower in Whitecourt Forest Area. Did you know there are 127 lookout towers across Alberta? Learn more here.

CLEAN YOUR RIDE

Off-highway vehicles can start wildfires. While riding, stop frequently to check your vehicle for the build up of grass, branches or other debris. Safely remove the debris from your machine. This material can catch fire and drop from your vehicle as you drive; acting like a drip-torch it can start a wildfire. Learn more here.

PUT OUT YOUR CAMPFIRE

Make sure your campfire is fully extinguished. A campfire can burn deep into the ground and flare up again in dry or windy weather. Soak the ashes and stir them. Keep soaking the ashes until they are cool to the touch. Even if you are going for a short hike, make sure your campfire is out. Learn more here.

LOCAL WILDFIRE UPDATE

There have been no new wildfires since August 3, 2016 in the Whitecourt Forest Area.

Since April 1, 2016 there have been 36 wildfires in the Area, that have burned just over 671 hectares.

For information on the wildfire situation across the province of Alberta, visit wildfire.alberta.ca.

72 HOUR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS KIT

In an emergency, you will need some basic supplies. The wildfire emergency preparedness guide is here. To learn more about emergency preparedness, visit GetPrepared.ca. You can also download the Alberta Emergency Alert App for A ndroid or A pple products.

Unless conditions change, your next email update will be on August 24, 2016.

For more frequent updates, check the Alberta Wildfire App for mobile And roi d or A p le products. You can also subscribe to the update to have it emailed to you.

wildfire.alberta.ca

Whitecourt Area Update