Edson Forest Area Wildfire Update

Never leave your campfire unattended. Soak it, stir it and soak it again until the ashes are cool to the touch.

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

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.

Aug 28 Hac 1

The Edson Forest Area hasn't detected a new wildfire since Aug 20. The area does anticipate an increase in wildfires once the grass starts to dry in the fall. We ask residents and the public keep watch of their surroundings and use caution when working or recreating outdoors. (August 2024).

FIRESMART COMMUNITY EVENT - CADOMIN

Join Alberta Wildfire and the residents of Cadomin on Saturday August 31 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for a FireSmart community event and Artisan Market.

Free BBQ located at the store from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
FireSmart information, sign up for Advanced FireSmart Home assessments (for a later date)
Give-aways and draw
Woody debris and yard garbage bins available in the community during the weekend
Potential wildfire crew to assist residents with limbing and trimming branches (subject to fire danger)
Artisan market happening at the Cadomin Community Hall

This event is in partnership with the members of the community of Cadomin, FireSmart Alberta, Yellowhead County and Alberta Wildfire.

IF YOU PLAN TO BURN IT - GET YOUR PERMIT

All burning within the Forest Protection Area of Alberta requires a burn permit, with the exception of campfires. 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.

EDSON FOREST AREA WILDFIRE UPDATE

The wildfire danger in the Edson Forest Area remain LOW. This means that fire can still ignite but is not expected to spread to deeper vegetation layers or larger fuels, such as trees. 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 99 wildfires in the Edson Forest Area burning a total of 289 ha. Of the 99 wildfires in the forest area, 70 were human-caused and 29 were lighting-caused.

These statistics are consistent with the average number of wildfires and hectares burnt for our forest area and reflect the proactive approaches to wildfire prevention and safe burning practices of residents and industry. Respecting fire bans and restrictions, following fire permit conditions and using care when having a campfire all contributed to reducing human-caused wildfires.

ACTIVE WILDFIRES IN THE EDSON FOREST AREA

EWF080 is now UNDER CONTROL. This wildfire is located in Willmore Wilderness Park, 50 km south-southeast of Grande Cache and 80 km west of Hinton. It's estimated to be 70 ha in size and determined to be caused by lightning.

EBZ001 is a mutual aid wildfire on the border of British Columbia and the Edson Forest Area, within Willmore Wilderness Park. It's currently burning 56 km southwest of Grande Cache, 98 km west of Rock Lake and 147 km west-northwest of Hinton. It is estimated to be 340 ha in size.

These wildfires are being monitored by firefighters and will be actioned if required. No communities are threatened by these wildfires. Learn more about wildfire classifications on our website and view active wildfires, their locations and stats on the interactive map on our Wildfire Status page.

PROVINCIAL WILDFIRE UPDATE

The fire danger is moderate to high in the boreal region and low along the Rocky Mountains, with pockets of very high fire danger in the Grande Prairie and High Level forest areas. It is very high to extreme in the agricultural zone.

Since January 1, 2024 in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta, there have been 1,107 wildfires burning a total of 706,717 hectares (ha). Last year, on this date, there were 985 wildfires that burnt a total of 2,204,517 ha. In the past five years on this date, an average of 936 wildfires had burnt an average of 635,884 ha.

For the most up-to-date wildfire information, visit the Alberta Wildfire Status Dashboard.

FIRESMART YOUR HOME AND PROPERTY

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.

Now that fall is quickly approaching, we ask farm and acreage owners to start thinking about FireSmart options for their property. Here are some tips to get you started:

FENCE LINES AND DITCHES | Unmanaged fence lines, ditches or roadsides usually have a large accumulation of grass, weeds and brush that can act as a wick, carrying intense, quick-spreading fires into your yard, fields or building sites. Manage the vegetation along fence lines and ditches leading up to your building sites or to other values for at least 100 metres (300 feet) in all directions. This can be done by mowing these areas. At minimum, mow them once late in the fall. Herbicide or a weed-eater can also help minimize the vegetation under the wires and between the posts. Remember to ensure that all your corral lines are also free from vegetation that could wick fire into your fenced feed areas.

It's never too late to participate. Learn how you can FireSmart your home and property! Visit FireSmart Alberta. For farm or acreages, you can download the Farm and Acreage FireSmart magazine.

WILDFIRE PREVENTION TIPS, TOOLS & INFORMATION

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.
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.