Wildfire Hazard
Rain and cooler temperatures have reduced the wildfire hazard to LOW for the Whitecourt Wildfire Management Area (WWMA).
Please keep in mind that the lack of rain over the last few months has dried the forest. If a wildfire starts, it will burn deep into the ground and takes a lot of work to put out. Please do your part; be careful to not start a wildfire while working or recreating in the forest this long weekend.
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.
Having a 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.
Weather
The temperature will remain around 20 degrees Celsius, wind will remain light. Thunderstorm activity will continue, bringing small amounts of rain. The risk of of lightning-started wildfires remains high; please report wildfires by calling 310-FIRE (3473).
Local Wildfires
August 5, 2015 at 9:00am
In the last 24 hours, there have been no new wildfire in the Whitecourt WMA. There are now wildfires burning at this time.
Since April 1, 2015 there have been 77 wildfires that have burned 68.31 hectares.
Provincial Wildfires
August 5, 2015 at 9:00am
There have been eight new wildfires in the last 24 hours. Alberta currently has 67 wildfires, 13 are classified as being held , 51 are under control and three have been turned over to the responsible party.
Since April 1, 2015, Alberta has recorded 1,580 wildfires that have burned a total of 487,155.27 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.
Fire Permits
BEFORE YOU BURN IT, GET YOUR PERMIT
If you want to do any burning, excluding campfires within the Forest Protection Area (FPA); you need to get a fire permit:
- Fire permits are free. To get the process started call 780-778-7272.
- Please call a week in advance of when you would like to burn in order to give our staff time to make arrangements to come out to your site and issue your permit.
- Fore efficiency, please have your site ready according to the burning site guidelines. before staff arrive. For your safety, a site visit is required in most cases.
- All permits must be completely extinguished before they expire, if you need more information make sure to ask.
Alberta Fire Bans
The Whitecourt Wildfire Management Area does not have a fire ban, restriction or advisory in place. This means in most parts of the Whitecourt WMA, safe campfires and burning are allowed at this time.
Other management areas within the Forest Protection Area (FPA) and some municipalities (including towns, summer villages, counties or provincial parks) have maintained their fire advisory, restriction or ban. Please visit www.albertafirebans.ca to ensure that there is not a fire ban or restriction in your area before burning.
Unless conditions change, you can expect your next wildfire update August 7.
Shannon Stambaugh | Wildfire Information Officer
Whitecourt Wildfire Management Area
office: 780.778.7273 | mobile: 780.706.5336
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download the App for android or apple product