Edson Forest Area Wildfire Update - July 12, 2024

FIRE BAN IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF THE FOREST PROTECTION AREA

The area continues to expect above average temperatures with the possibility of an afternoon storm. Crossover conditions are expected. Crossover occurs when the relative humidity is lower than the temperature and this can create extreme wildfire behavior.

If you see smoke or flame in the forest and suspect it's a wildfire, call 310-FIRE (3473) to report it.

EWF064 was detected yesterday and wildland firefighters responded quickly to extinguish it. The cause of the wildfire remains under investigation but has the characteristics of a lightning-caused wildfire. Our lightning map system shows that lightning occurred in the area, it's isolated from nearby access and the tree appears to have been struck by lightning. (July 12, 2024).

ACTIVE WILDFIRES

EWF061 is currently BEING HELD which means that given current weather conditions and resources, the wildfire is not anticipated to grow past expected boundaries. The wildfire is located 18 km northeast of Cynthia, 20 km southwest of Wildwood and 6.5 km east of highway 753. It's estimated to be 73.5 hectares (ha) in size. 

There are 20 firefighters associated to this wildfire and one helicopter. Firefighters are searching for and extinguishing hotspots with water pumps and hose. This process can take some time but is necessary to ensure the fire is fully extinguished. 

The following wildfires were detected in the past 24 hours and suspected to be caused by lightning, however they remain under investigation. The rapid response of our initial attack crews were able to extinguish them quickly.

EWF062 is EXTINGUISHED and was estimated to be 0.39 ha in size.

EWF063 is EXTINGUISHED and was estimated to be 0.02 ha in size.

EWF064 is EXTINGUISHED and was estimated to be 0.02 ha in size.

EDSON FOREST AREA WILDFIRE UPDATE

The wildfire danger in the Edson Forest Area is now EXTREME. This means that forest fuels are extremely dry and pose a very serious fire risk. Fast-spreading, high-intensity fires are likely, which are very difficult to control. 

Fire danger is a relative index depicting forest environment conditions, how a fire will behave and how much damage a fire could do. View the forecasted fire danger map.

Since January 1, 2024, there have been 64 wildfires in the Edson Forest Area burning a total of 163 hectares (ha).

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. 

Learn more about wildfire classifications.

View active wildfires, their locations and stats on the interactive map on our Wildfire Status page.

A fire ban is in effect as of July 10 in the entire Forest Protection Area of Alberta, including the EDSON FOREST AREA, due to hot and dry conditions.

Cities, towns, villages and summer villages, as well as federal lands (such as national parks), are exempt from this ban. These jurisdictions have the authority to issue their own bans and may have complementary bans in place.

Visit Alberta Fire Bans to see if a fire ban or restriction is in place in your area.

Under this fire ban:

• All fire permits are suspended or cancelled.
• No new fire permits will be issued.
• Some allowances can be made for essential agricultural and industrial burning, if approved by a forest officer.

Prohibited:

• All outdoor wood fires, including wood campfires on public land, private land, designated campgrounds, and backyard firepits
• Barbeque charcoal briquettes
• Fireworks and exploding targets

Allowed:

• Propane/ natural gas-powered appliances
• Indoor wood fires inside a structure (such as a facility, building, tent or RV) and contained within a device with a chimney and spark arrestor
• Open flame oil devices (such as deep fryers and tiki torches). All devices must be CSA approved and used per manufacturer’s standards.

If you see a wildfire, report it immediately by calling 310-FIRE.

The fire ban will remain in effect until conditions improve.

PROVINCIAL WILDFIRE UPDATE

The fire danger is high to very high in the central boreal region and extreme throughout the rest of the province.

Since January 1, there have been 732 wildfires recorded in the Forest Protection Area that have burned 254,327 hectares.

Last year, on this date, there was 844 wildfires that burnt a total of 2,153,851 ha. In the past 5 years on this date, an average of 675 wildfires had burnt 225,575 ha.

FIRE PERMITS ARE REQUIRED

Under a FIRE BAN, all permits are cancelled or suspended and no new permits will be issued. 

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.  

Homes and buildings ignite because of the materials, condition, and everything that surrounds them. The area within 30 metres of the home is called the Home Ignition Zone (HIZ). Within it are three priority areas, each requiring specific actions. Start by reducing your risk in the Immediate Zone and work your way outward.

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.

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.