Edson Area Update

Edson Forest Area Wildfire Update - July 9, 2021 (9:00 p.m)

Posted on Fri, Jul 09, 2021

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A fire restriction remains in effect for the Edson Forest Area.

Please be cautious when working or recreating in the outdoors. Be mindful of hot exhaust, spark or friction. Keep watch of your surroundings and ensure your activities or equipment does not start a wildfire.

If you see smoke or flame and suspect it's a wildfire, call 310-FIRE.

87 July 9 905pm EWF108

EWF108 is burning out of control 33 km north west of Edson. (July 9, 2021 9:00 p.m) 

NEW WILDFIRE DETECTIONS

Two new wildfires were detected today.

EWF108 is currently burning OUT OF CONTROL 33 km north west of Edson. The wildfire is located 2 km south of the Emerson (A) Road and 16 km west of the Amoco/North Road. The fire is estimated to be 5 ha in size and was burning towards the north west. There are currently 24 firefighters, four helicopters and seven pieces of heavy equipment working to contain the fire. Six airtankers have completed their final drops of retardant on the wildfire and has since handed over to helicopters for bucket operations.

Heavy equipment and firefighters will work late into the evening to build containment line around the fire. Firefighters and helicopters will return in the morning and resume operations.

EWF107 is now EXTINGUISHED at 0.10 ha and was detected at 2:00 p.m today.

There are no communities being affected by any wildfires in our forest area at this time. 

Many of the recent wildfires are believed to have been caused by lightning strikes that have occurred over the past week. These types of wildfires can smolder deep into the ground for days or even weeks and flare when the conditions are right.

We would like to remind everyone, if you see smoke or flame in the forest, call 310-FIRE.

To view the wildfires on a map, download the new AB Wildfire Status App.

To understand what the wildfire classifications mean, visit our website by clicking here.


EDSON FOREST AREA FIRE DANGER RATING

The wildfire danger in the Edson Forest Area is now VERY HIGH.


SMOKE CONCERNS

Wildfire smoke may be affecting residents in our forest area. The smoke over our area is not produced by any current wildfires in Alberta. For those of you wondering what location the smoke is coming from, visit FireSmoke.ca. The service can produce forecasts of hourly ground-level concentrations of smoke from wildfires up to 48 hours in advance.

If you have smoke related health concerns, please contact Alberta 811 or visit their website by clicking here.


EDSON FOREST AREA WILDFIRE UPDATE

Since March 1, 2021, there have been 107 wildfires in the Edson Forest Area burning a total of 815 ha. To date, 78% of the wildfires in our forest area have been human-caused and could have been prevented.


EWF105 is UNDER CONTROL at 1.70 ha. Nine firefighters and one water truck are assigned to the wildfire.

EWF104 is now EXTINGUISHED. The cause was determined to be lightning.

EWF093 and EWF094 are both located 12 km north of Cynthia and 73 km south east of Edson on the east side of highway 753. The fires are 2.5 km from each other. EWF094 remains UNDER CONTROL and is 1.5 ha in size. EWF093 is now UNDER CONTROL and is 43 ha in size. There are 36 firefighters and one helicopter assigned to this wildfire. The cause of these wildfires was determined to be lightning.

EWF075 was detected on June 22 and is now classified as UNDER CONTROL. The wildfire is located 9 km west of Evansburg, north of highway 16 and west of highway 22. The wildfire is 175 hectares in size. No new growth has been reported since the evening of June 22. Firefighters from across the province are searching for and extinguishing hotspots. They will remain vigilant until the wildfire is fully extinguished.

EWF036 was detected on April 30 and is estimated to be 479 ha in size. The wildfire remains classified as UNDER CONTROL and is located 20 km south of Carrot Creek, 25 km north west of Cynthia and 45 km south east of Edson. Crews will continue to monitor for hotspots until it is determined to be fully extinguished.

The wildfires pose no threat to any communities at this time. The cause of the wildfires are currently under investigation (unless stated).


PROVINCIAL WILDFIRE UPDATE

Since March 1 in the Forest Protection Area, there have been 718 wildfires burning a total of 3,464 ha.  

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


July 5 - fire restriction poster

To view the Ministerial Order:  https://wildfire.alberta.ca/wildfire-status/ministerial-orders.aspx


WILDFIRE PREVENTION TIPS

Albertans are always asked to use caution when working or recreating in the outdoors:

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 ALBERTA WILDFIRE INFORMATION

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For more information, please contact:

Caroline Charbonneau
Wildfire Information Officer | Edson Forest Area
Cell:  780-740-1341
caroline.charbonneau@gov.ab.ca
 
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