Calgary Forest Area Wildfire Update

The wildfire danger across the Calgary Forest Area (CFA) remains EXTREME. There has been a heat warning across much of the CFA this week with daytime high temperatures trending into the 30s. Although the longer term forecast is calling for a possible downtrend, the short term conditions will continue to push up the wildfire danger.

ACTIVE WILDFIRES IN THE CFA

CWF-065 (Burstall Lake Fire) is classified as OUT OF CONTROL. It is located in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park approximately 10 km south of the Spray Lakes Reservoir. It is currently estimated at 1.2 hectares. Resources on this wildfire include 20 wildland firefighters and 1 helicopter for both crew movement and bucketing on the wildfire. Airtankers are in the area and available if requested/required. Heavy equipment will be staged locally should they be required. There is no immediate threat to any infrastructure or communities.

CWF-065 was detected in the evening on August 2, crews responded and began bucketing operations. The fire did not grow substantially in size overnight. The Smith Dorian Trail (hwy. 742) remains open, but crews, aircraft and smoke may be visible. Local trail closures are in effect in the immediate vicinity. Please check the Alberta Parks website for current information on impacted trails.

Aerial view of CWF-065 in the evening of August 2. Crews responded and bucketed on this wildfire. Active suppression is ongoing today, August 3.

CWF-057 FALLENTIMBER FIRE is now classified as UNDER CONTROL. It is located approximately 25 km west of Water Valley. With the most recent mapping, the new size estimated at 48.8 hectares.

The closure near the wildfire will remain in place while active suppression continues over the weekend. 17 wildland firefighters and a helicopter are working on this fire today.

Closure Area near Fallentimber Fire

The Stud Creek Road (Burnt Timber Road) REMAINS CLOSED. In addition to Stud Creek Road, the area closure is located from south of the Red Deer River, east of highway 40, west of the PLUZ boundary and north of highway 579.

All public lands, OHV trails and random camping areas within this zone are closed to public access.

CWF-064 is now EXTINGUISHED at 0.3 hectares.

Since January 1, the CFA has responded to 65 wildfires which have burned 63 hectares.

LONG WEEKEND

Alberta Wildfire would like to remind anyone heading out to our forested areas to be responsible. The entire CFA remains under a fire ban. Propane fire pits are still allowed during a fire ban but wood burning fires, charcoal briquettes, fireworks and exploding targets are all prohibited. To report wildfires, call 310-FIRE.

310-FIRE flames trees

RESOURCES PREPOSITIONED IN THE CFA

As the wildfire danger increases, firefighting resources are prepositioned into areas with higher fire danger. Although the CFA sent many wildland firefighters to assist on wildfires burning in northern Alberta earlier this season, there were always sufficient staffing levels and equipment maintained locally. As we are now in EXTREME wildfire danger, we have further bolstered our local firefighting resources to respond quickly to any new wildfire starts. Helicopters, heavy equipment, wildland firefighting crews and airtankers are all available.

Fire Ban wide

FIRE BAN IN THE CALGARY FOREST AREA REMAINS IN EFFECT.

With the long weekend many will be turning their attention to camping and campfires. Wildland firefighters, patrol staff and Peace Officers will be patrolling areas in the CFA to ensure compliance with the FIRE BAN.

Under this ban all fire permits are suspended or cancelled and no new permits will be issued.

Prohibited:

Any type of open burning, including brush piles and burn barrels
Fireworks and exploding targets
Campfires in random camping areas
Campfires in designated campgrounds and day use areas
Backyard fire pits
Charcoal briquettes

Allowed:

Portable propane fire pits
Gas or propane fueled stoves and barbecues
Indoor wood fires inside a structure and contained within a device with a chimney and spark arrestor
Catalytic or infrared style heaters

Cities, towns, villages and summer villages, as well as federal lands (such as national parks) are exempt from this ban. These jurisdictions have the authority to issue their own bans and may have complementary bans in place.

This fire ban impacts all campgrounds as well as random camping areas in public land use zones within the Calgary Forest Area.

This fire ban will remain in effect until conditions improve. For a map of the impacted area, visit albertafirebans.ca.

PROVINCIAL WILDFIRE SUMMARY (as of 10:00 am August 3, 2024)

Since January 1, there have been 1,022 wildfires recorded in the Forest Protection Area that have burned 570,808 hectares (ha).
There are currently 118 active wildfires in the Forest Protection Area. Of these wildfires, 18 are classified as out of control, 47 are being held and 53 are under control.
There is currently one carryover wildfire from the 2023 season.

For the most up-to-date wildfire information, visit the Alberta Wildfire Status Dashboard.

WILDFIRE DASHBOARD

The wildfire dashboard provides up-to-date wildfire information at the click of a button. This interactive tool displays important statistics on the number of active wildfires in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta, sizes, locations and more.

Wildfire Dashboard