A Fire Advisory is no longer in effect for the Edson Forest Area.
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. 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 takes every opportunity to share wildfire prevention messages with residents. Last month, we were invited to attend Farm Safety Day which was hosted by our partner Yellowhead County.
EDSON FOREST AREA FIRE DANGER RATING
The wildfire danger in the Edson Forest Area is now LOW thanks to cooler temperatures and significant precipitation.
FIRE ADVISORY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT
The fire advisory is no longer in effect for the Edson Forest Area section of the Forest Protection Area due to recent precipitation and higher humidity.
Stay tuned to www.albertafirebans.ca throughout the wildfire season for more information about fire bans and restrictions in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta.
FARM AND ACREAGE | WILDFIRE PREVENTION
Help emergency responders find you faster by ensuring you have a visible, fire-resistant address sign. Imagine a convoy of firefighters rushing down the highway, turning off onto your road and having to look for the driveway next to the crooked tree and beside the big rock! A highly visible, fire-resistant address sign can be your best friend during wildfire season.
Not all counties and municipalities have a rural addressing initiative like the one shown here. If not, you might want to consider having your own address sign made. Use fire-resistant materials, and display it in a visible area near your driveway, away from tall grass and bushes. The posts for the sign also need to be fire resistant! A metal sign on a wooden post isn’t going to help you in a wildfire.
DID YOU KNOW YOUR OHV CAN START A WILDFIRE?
On average, over 30 wildfires are started by off-highway vehicles (OHVs) each year in Alberta’s FPA. Some of these result in very large and expensive wildfires, threatening homes and communities. Most OHV fires happen in the spring when the snow has melted and there is an abundance of dry grass in the forest.
HOW CAN OHVs START WILDFIRES?
The exhaust system of an OHV can heat up to temperatures in excess of 200°C. When riders travel through wet areas, debris can build up on the exhaust and next to engine hot spots. As the rider travels, the muskeg, grass or other debris dries out and is ignited by the hot engine. These burning pieces of debris can fall to the ground and cause a wildfire.
HOW YOU CAN PREVENT YOUR OHV FROM STARTING A WILDFIRE
Before you ride, inspect your OHV and clear out any debris that has built up near the exhaust or other hot spots. Avoid riding in wet areas. If you do ride in a wet area, through muskeg or tall grass, stop frequently and remove all debris from your engine and hot spots before it can dry out, heat up, fall to the ground, and cause a wildfire. Stomp on smouldering debris or soak it with water until it is extinguished. Ensure the muffler and spark arresters on your OHV are in good working condition. Any alterations to the factory components of an OHV can greatly increase the chance of starting a wildfire. Always carry a small fire extinguisher, collapsible pail and shovel on your OHV. Make sure you extinguish any campfires you have when you are out riding.
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 54 wildfires in the Edson Forest Area burning a total of 39 ha.
PROVINCIAL WILDFIRE UPDATE
Since January 1, 2022 in the Forest Protection Area, there have been 403 wildfires burning a total of 10,406 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.
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:
