BRING THE CUP HOME - GO, OILERS, GO!
Be advised that the area may experience strong winds 30 km/h gusting to 50 km/h. Only burn or have a campfire when it is safe to do so and adhere to your burn permit.
An increased number of abandoned campfires have been found this month. Ensure you fully extinguish your campfire before leaving your site and never leave it unattended.
If you see smoke or flame in the forest and suspect it's a wildfire, call 310-FIRE (3473) to report it.
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.
Numerous abandoned campfires have been found this month. Be a good camper, put out your campfire! (June 2024).
EDSON FOREST AREA WILDFIRE UPDATE
The wildfire danger in the Edson Forest Area is now VERY HIGH. This means that high-intensity fire is expected and likely to spread to treetops. A fire could start easily and challenge suppression efforts. Fire danger is a relative index depicting forest environment conditions, how a fire will behave and how much damage a fire could do. To view the forecasted fire danger map, click here.
Since January 1, 2024, there have been 59 wildfires in the Edson Forest Area burning a total of 85.79 hectares (ha).
Alberta investigates all wildfires. Of the 58 wildfires this year, nine have been caused by residents working or burning on their property, five have been caused by recreation activities, five by powerlines and three by agricultural activities. The rest remain under investigation or caused by similar industries and land users.
EWF059 was detected today and estimated to be 0.01 ha in size. Firefighters are on site and the wildfire is currently under control. (June 24, 2024).
There has also been seven wildfires this year caused by copper wire burning. That makes up for 12% of our wildfires. We ask the public to report these wildfires to 310-FIRE to ensure the fire is completely extinguished and be reported to the RCMP due to possible illegal activities.
The area has detected an increase in abandoned campfires this month. Please make sure you fully extinguish your campfire and do not leave it unattended. The recent precipitation this spring has not been significant enough to prevent wildfires from spreading. Soak your campfire, stir the ashes and soak it again until the ashes are cool to the touch.
It's important to understand that wildfires caused by humans are rarely arson and anyone could accidently cause a wildfire. Keep watch of your surroundings when working and recreating outdoors and keep the risk of causing a wildfire to a minimum.
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.
PROVINCIAL WILDFIRE UPDATE
The fire danger is very high to extreme in the northern parts of the province. It is low to moderate for the central boreal. The Rockies are very high to extreme, and the agricultural zone is mostly extreme.
Since January 1, 2024 in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta, there have been 473 wildfires burning a total of 31,502 ha.
Last year, on this date, there was 696 wildfires that burnt a total of 1,760,386 ha. In the past 5 years on this date, an average of 551 wildfires burnt an average of 511,909 ha.
FIRE PERMITS ARE REQUIRED
All burning within the Forest Protection Area of Alberta requires a burn permit, with the exception of campfire. You can get your free fire permit by applying online or contact your local forest area office at (780) 723-8527 or you can request your permit using the online fire permit portal.
If you plan to light fireworks or use exploding targets, you must have written permission from a forest officer. Apply for your free fire permit online or contact the forest area office. Additional restrictions may be in place within your municipality. To learn more, visit their website.
FIRESMART YOUR HOME
FireSmart is a national program that helps Canadians increase their resilience to wildfire. Whether you are a homeowner, resident, business, local government, or Indigenous community, you can take small steps with lasting impacts.
For more than 20 years, FireSmart has been developing practical, effective, and science-based programs to help people prepare themselves for wildfire. Especially those that live in or near the wildland-urban interface.
What is the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI)?
The wildland-urban interface is where human development meets or mixes with undeveloped wildland or vegetative fuels in both remote rural locations and in urban centers. When we live, work and play in the WUI, we are more exposed to the danger of wildfire.
It is important to understand the two main components within the WUI fuel complex:
- Wildland fuels: All vegetation (natural and cultivated)
- Built fuels: Human-made structures (buildings and infrastructure)
These fuels have different burning characteristic and create uniquely complex conditions when combined that affect the ignition and spread of wildfire. By understanding the complexities of these combined fuels, we better comprehend the challenges a WUI wildfire poses to firefighters.
To learn more on how you can protect your home, visit FireSmart Alberta. For farm or acreages, you can download the Farm and Acreage FireSmart magazine.
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.
- If you are working within the Forest Protection of Alberta, you must carry sufficient firefighting equipment as per the Forest Prairie and Protection Act.
- 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:
