The Edson Forest Area wishes you a joyful holiday and the very best in the new year!
IF YOU PLAN TO HARVEST IT - GET YOUR PERMIT
Personal Use Forest Products Permits (PUFPP)are for small-scale, personal use only (no resale) for Christmas trees, firewood or transplants. These free permits are available online or in person at your nearest forestry office. PUFPPs authorize Albertans to cut and removed timber from designated Crown land only. The area-specific PUFPP document must be with you at all times while cutting or transporting trees from Crown land. In one 30-day period, a person can hold up to four permits – up to one permit each for: firewood. Christmas trees, roundwood and transplants.
EDSON FOREST AREA WILDFIRE UPDATE
The wildfire danger in the Edson Forest Area remains LOW. Since January 1, 2024, there have been 114 wildfires in the Edson Forest Area burning a total of 290.57 hectares (ha).
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.
PERMITS ARE NO LONGER REQUIRED UNTIL MARCH 1
While fire permits are not required for burning outside of wildfire season in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta, residents and industry planning a burn during winter should keep safe burning practices top of mind and follow Alberta Wildfire’s guidelines. These include some of the following:
To assist the Edson Forest Area, please let us know if you plan any large scale winter burning by contacting the dispatch line directly (780) 723-8507 (leave a message if closed) with the following:
For more information or if you require guidance, you can contact the local forest area or visit our webpage.
Additional information can be found in the Brush piles, windrows and winter burning pamphlet. Or watch our video on how to prevent spring wildfires.
SMOKE MANAGEMENT AND INVERSIONS
Before you burn, check the weather forecast. If an inversion is expected, smoke can be trapped close to the ground overnight reducing visibility and causing dangerous driving conditions and can affects those with smoke related health concerns.
WHAT IS AN INVERSION?
As temperatures start to cool early in the evening, the air closest to the earth’s surface will cool faster than the air above the surface. This is opposite of what air normally does. Normally air cools with the increase of height above the surface. The heat from the surface of the land is radiated back up into the atmosphere, warming the air above this shallow area near the ground, and since cold air is denser than warm air, the areas near the surface become colder than above.
The inversion happens when cold air is trapped near the ground by warmer air. The cool air near the surface cannot escape upwards and this creates a layer in which smoke from winter burning is trapped along the ground surface as it cannot mix out and rise.
HOW TO PREVENT SMOKE FROM LAYING LOW?
Check the weather forecast and plan your burns when inversions aren't likely to occur. If you see smoke (or steam from the local mills) rising directly into the atmosphere, that's the best time to burn to limit smoke issues.
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.
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 COMMUNITY PREPARDNESS DAY
Wildfire Community Preparedness Day gives neighbourhoods and communities the opportunity to receive a $500 award from FireSmart Canada, along with an event kit to help make your event a huge success. Starting a FireSmart conversation in your community can feel overwhelming at first, but Wildfire Preparedness Day is designed to help you begin your FireSmart journey or continue the incredible work you’re already doing.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity! Apply for your chance to receive $500 to support a FireSmart event or project on your street or within your community. Applications are now open until Jan 31, 2025!
If you have questions, looking for ideas or would like support with your event, contact Caroline Charbonneau (780) 740-1341 or email at caroline.charbonneau@gov.ab.ca
Albertans are always asked to use caution when working or recreating in the outdoors:
For more information, please contact: