A fire ban remains in effect for the entire Forest Protection Area of Alberta.
We are going to see a return to higher temperatures this week with very little rain in the forecast. Conditions continue to be dry and the wildfire danger is extreme. Continue to exercise caution in the forest and around grass.
Thank you for being careful when camping and enjoying your time in the forest without a campfire. It is with your help that we can reduce the chances of wildfires in our area.
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 | View previous Edson Forest Area Updates. Bold indicates new or important information.
EWF061 has seen little to no wildfire activity in the past two days. The wildfire is nearly fully contained and firefighters are working on hotspots to fully extinguish it. (July 13, 2024).
ACTIVE WILDFIRES IN THE EDSON FOREST AREA
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.
Wildfires caused by lightning are common this time of year. Thanks to our various crews, they were able to contain, and in most cases, extinguish the most recent wildfires quickly. Alberta Wildfire typically has three types of firefighting crews and each is used for a specific purpose but can support each others goals.
Unit Crew (UNIT) Unit Crew (UNIT) members work on a 20-person crew. Unit Crews are considered sustained action crews, who work to contain and completely extinguish fires. Members must maintain a state of good health and physical fitness to endure the rigorous training and working conditions.
Helitack (HAC) Helitack (HAC) crew members work on a four or eight person crew. Helitack crews are usually the first to respond to a wildfire and are transported by helicopter. Members must maintain a state of good health and physical fitness to endure the rigorous training and working conditions.
Firetack (FTAC) Firetack (FTAC) crew members work on a contracted sustained action wildfire crew.
Members must always maintain a good state of health and physical fitness to endure the rigorous training and working conditions. Members must also take a physical fitness test prior to recruitment. Physical training is recommended four to six weeks prior to attempting the fitness test. For guidelines for training, see Firetack Fitness Test.
Selection is done by a contractor in consultation with the local communities or settlements. To find local contractors in your area, or for more information on Firetack recruiting, contact your closest forest area office.
To learn more about our firefighters and support personnel, visit our recruitment page.
Fire fighting continues well after the flames are out. It is very important to continue checking for hot spots that can burn underground and flair up again without notice. (July 15, 2024).
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 66 wildfires in the Edson Forest Area burning a total of 163 hectares (ha).
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 moderate to high in the Slave Lake and northern agricultural regions and very high to extreme throughout the rest of the province.
Since January 1, there have been 788 wildfires recorded in the Forest Protection Area that have burned 269,913 hectares.
Last year, on this date, there was 854 wildfires that burnt a total of 2,159,469 ha. In the past 5 years on this date, an average of 696 wildfires had burnt 614,045 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.
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.
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:
