Help 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.
Do not burn in windy conditions and always adhere to your permit. Dry grass can catch easily and burn very quickly and any spark, friction or hot exhaust can easily start a wildfire.
If you see smoke or flame and suspect it's a wildfire, call 310-FIRE.
AB Wildfire has three types of firefighting crews. One of the crew types are called Unit, they consist of 20 firefighters and are considered sustained action crews, who are specifically utilized to contain and completely extinguish fires. New recruits are training in the field this week, getting briefed on helicopter safety and practicing extinguishing wildfires.
EDSON FOREST AREA FIRE DANGER RATING
The wildfire danger in the Edson Forest Area remains HIGH due to warm temperatures and very little precipitation.
FARM AND ACREAGE | WILDFIRE PREVENTION
Can emergency vehicles access your property? Here are some tips you may not have considered.
Driveways require a minimum of four metres (12 feet) vertical clearance and a minimum of four metres (12 feet) width to provide safe access for firefighting and other emergency vehicles. Any driveway longer than 90 metres (300 feet) should have a turn-out space to allow fire trucks or other firefighting equipment to pass or to turn around. Don’t block your access route with gates, archways or other things that will impede the entrance of emergency vehicles. Park your vehicles off to the side and keep clutter from blocking the driveway. If you have a dugout or other water source like a lake or river, ensure that there is access to allow trucks to fill with water.
For more information, visit the Farm and Acreage Magazine online by clicking here.
THE FOREST PROTECTION AREA OF ALBERTA
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development (AFRED) is responsible for all aspects of wildfire management within the Forest Protection Area (FPA) of Alberta. This includes wildfire prevention, wildfire response, permit issuance, enforcement and the initiation of fire advisories, restrictions, bans and forest area closures. Authority for these actions is granted under the Forest and Prairie Protection Act and supporting regulations.
The FPA covers approximately 62% of the province, and is divided into 10 Forest Areas. Each Forest Area manages their own fire centre, fire bases, airtanker bases and wildfire lookouts. Resources are moved throughout the areas as required, and coordinated through the Alberta Wildfire Coordination Centre in Edmonton. Note that cities, towns, villages and summer villages, even if embedded within the FPA, are outside of AFRED’s jurisdiction. The local municipality or governing authority is responsible for wildfire management on their land base.
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 51 wildfires in the Edson Forest Area burning a total of 36 ha.
PROVINCIAL WILDFIRE UPDATE
Since January 1, 2022 in the Forest Protection Area, there have been 360 wildfires burning a total of 504 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:
