This long weekend, keep Alberta's forest safe and ensure you fully extinguish your campfire. Soak the ashes, stir them and soak them again until they're cool to the touch. Never leave your campfire unattended.
Dry grass can catch easily and burn very quickly. Areas of exposed dry grass and fine fuels are a concern and any spark, friction or hot exhaust can easily start a wildfire even when the temperatures are cooler.
If you see smoke or flame and suspect it's a wildfire, call 310-FIRE.
AB Wildfire and the Town of Edson Fire Department conducted a hazard reduction burn near the community last week. This was a great opportunity for both partners to cross-train and share valuable knowledge.
EDSON FOREST AREA FIRE DANGER RATING
The wildfire danger in the Edson Forest Area is now LOW due to cooler temperatures and significant moisture.
CAMPFIRE SAFETY
Now that the area is nearly snow free, many Albertans are out enjoying the outdoors. We would like to share some important reminders to help keep our forests safe:
BUILD IN A SAFE LOCATION
A campfire should be built on level ground near water and should be sheltered from the wind. If water is not nearby, keep a large pail already filled with water within reach. Under the right conditions, wind can pick up sparks or embers and ignite a wildfire.
NEVER LEAVE YOUR CAMPFIRE UNATTENDED
Whether you are going to bed, going out for a short hike or heading home, your campfire must be fully extinguished before you leave.
PROPERLY EXTINGUISH YOUR CAMPFIRE
You must soak the ashes with water, stir it with a shovel or large stick and soak the ashes again. Continue to do this until the ashes are cool to the touch. Your campfire can re-ignite if not properly extinguished, especially if there is wind, and could start a wildfire.
CADOMIN FIRESMART WORK BEE & COMMUNITY CLEAN UP
The Cadomin Community Society in partnership with AB Wildfire & Yellowhead County invite the members of Cadomin to take part in removing combustible debris to help reduce the impacts of a potential wildfire, and do a general clean up of the community!
Join us at the INFORMATION STATION on Saturday May 21 from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the CADOMIN FIRE HALL to learn how you can help. We'll have paper or plastic bags and gloves available. We encourage you to join us early and learn about resources and available assistance for the event.
Waste disposal dumpsters will be provided by Yellowhead County in the Hamlet of Cadomin for the May Long Weekend on May 21, 22 & 23 from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Be advised that an attendant will be on-site to assist with the coordination of the waste collection during these times. No metal waste (fridges, dryers, etc) will be accepted. Garbage and materials from outside the hamlet will not be accepted. Waste will not be received before the weekend.
INFRARED SCANNING TESTING | HINTON | May 6 - 27, 2022
Infrared scanning (IR) is one of many tools that we use to help fight wildfire by locating hotspots effectively and quickly. Starting May 6 until May 27, drones, airplanes and helicopters will be flying in the Hinton area, testing their infrared scanning equipment in the very early morning and late into the night. The operators of these machines are private contractors hired by Alberta Wildfire and are evaluated on their accuracy, during both day and night. The tests will be conducted over a pre-set grid system over the Cache Percotte forest, located south of the Town of Hinton.
FIRE PERMITS
Wildfire season in Alberta is from March 1 until October 31. During wildfire season, you are required to have a fire permit if you plan on burning in the Forest Protection Area, with the exception of a campfire. To request your free fire permit, contact the local forest area: (780) 723-8527 or you can request your permit using the new, convenient online fire permit portal.
We ask that you plan ahead, there may be delays for a forest officer to visit your site. For more information regarding fire permits, you can view our video by clicking here.
EDSON FOREST AREA WILDFIRE UPDATE
Since January 1, 2022, there have been 41 wildfires in the Edson Forest Area burning a total of 35 ha.
PROVINCIAL WILDFIRE UPDATE
Since January 1, 2022 in the Forest Protection Area, there have been 235 wildfires burning a total of 457 ha.
To view the wildfires on a map, check out the new wildfire dashboard. It 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 province, sizes, locations, suspected causes and more.
WILDFIRE PREVENTION TIPS
Albertans are always asked to use caution when working or recreating in the outdoors:
- Before you burn it, get your fire permit. Fire permits in Alberta.
- Clear debris from hot spots on your off-highway vehicle.
- Ensure your campfire is out - soak it, stir it, soak it again.
- Before you head out this weekend, check out the albertafirebans.ca website or download the app to stay informed.
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ALBERTA WILDFIRE INFORMATION
- Subscribe to the Edson Forest Area wildfire update to receive an email when new information is posted.
- Download the Alberta Wildfire App for Apple and Android device.
- Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
For more information, please contact:
