We urge everyone who conducted burning projects this winter to return and ensure the piles are fully extinguished. Scan the ashes by looking, smelling and carefully feeling with your bare hand for any signs of smoke or heat.
Fire permits are required for burning within the Forest Protection Area, except for a campfire. Apply online or contact the forest area office for your free burn permit.
If you see smoke or flame in the forest and suspect it's a wildfire, call 310-FIRE.
The community of Victor Lake has begun construction of a nearby fire guard and will be burning woody debris to clear the area. Alberta Wildfire has issued a fire permit to the community in preparation for this work. Smoke will be seen in the area, including from Grande Cache (near Victor Lake, March 2024).
This update is best viewed on a web browser or the AB Wildfire Status App | To view previous Edson Forest Area Updates - Click here. Bold indicates new or important information.
EDSON FOREST AREA WILDFIRE UPDATE
The wildfire danger in the Edson Forest Area is LOW. The recent snow is melting quickly which is increasing the risk of new wildfires. Keep watch of your surroundings when working outside. Sparks, hot exhaust or friction can ignite a wildfire in the exposed dry grass and vegetation. Now is the time to check your winter burns and make sure they're fully extinguished. A burn can smoulder beneath the ground for days or weeks, and resurface when conditions are favorable to start a wildfire.
Wildland firefighters are on standby and ready to respond if a wildfire does start. We ask that if you see smoke or flame in the forest, report it to 310-FIRE.
Since January 1, 2024, there have been six wildfires in the Edson Forest Area burning a total of 8.09 ha. EWF004 was detected on February 23 and was turned over to the responsible stakeholder to extinguish. EWF006 was detected on March 4 and is currently under control at 0.01 ha.
WILDFIRE STATUS - CARRY OVER WILDFIRES
There are six "carry over" wildfires from the previous year still listed in our forest area. They are all classified as under control. Of these wildfires, one is human-caused, four are caused by lightning and two remain under investigation. These wildfires may not be active at the moment but will stay listed until forest officers are certain they are fully extinguished.
It may take several weeks or months before these carryover wildfires are classified as extinguished. A high level heat scan will be conducted with an aircraft when specific ground and moisture conditions are met. Too much snow or rain can cover hotspots which won’t be picked up by the scanner.
The wildfires will continue to be monitored for activity and responded to by local wildland firefighting crews when needed.
None of these wildfires pose a threat to any communities or properties, including the Town of Edson. To learn more about wildfire classifications, click here.
Visit our website and click on the interactive map to view active wildfires, their locations and stats on the wildfire dashboard.
FIRE PERMITS ARE REQUIRED
Wildfire season has begun and all burning, with the exception of campfire, require a burn permit within the Forest Protection Area of Alberta. If you require a fire permit for any new or existing burning, you can apply online or contact your local forest area office.
To request your free fire permit, contact the local forest area: (780) 723-8527 or you can request your permit using the 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.
CHECK YOUR WINTER BURNS
Remember to revisit all fall and winter burn piles today and throughout the spring. When checking your winter burns, spread around any remaining debris so you can probe the area for hotspots. If you see or smell smoke or feel heat with your bare hand, the fire is still burning. Douse any remaining hotspots with water and stir up the ashes. A fire is not out until there is absolutely no heat emanating from the ashes. If fires aren’t properly put out, they can spread and burn underground or under the snow and ice. Under the right conditions, these fires can re-emerge in the spring as wildfires.
For more information regarding fire permits, you can view our video by clicking here or see our Fire Permits - Safe Burning Practices information pamphlet.
FIRESMART
Meet Ember, FireSmart's official new mascot. She makes for the perfect FireSmart messenger because of her unique characteristics, which include: alertness, adaptability, intelligence and community mindedness.
Ember also has a video to introduce the important work that she does and the communities that she supports. You can visit Ember's Den by clicking this link: https://firesmartbc.ca/ember/
WILDFIRE PREVENTION TIPS & TOOLS
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.
- For road closure information, please visit 511.alberta.ca
- For information regarding smoke in the area, you can visit firesmoke.ca
- NASA FIRMS Fire Information website is a great resource to give an idea of the location of wildfires in the area, but note that the data is based on interpolation and often can make the wildfire look larger then it actually is.
- To view the provincial wildfire danger map, click here.
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:
