Edson Forest Area Wildfire Update - January 3, 2025

The risk of a wildfire could be present year-round depending on weather conditions and snow levels. Monitor the weather forecast, manage smoke impacts to nearby communities and transportation corridors and check your winter burns regularity to ensure they're fully extinguished.

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

The Edson Forest Area wishes you the best in the new year!

FIRESMART COMMUNITY SERIES

Alberta Forestry is partnering up with Yellowhead County for another great FireSmart Community Series! Join us at one of the open houses to learn more on how you can protect your home and property from wildfire.

EDSON FOREST AREA WILDFIRE UPDATE 

The wildfire danger in the Edson Forest Area remains LOW. Since January 1, 2025, no wildfires have been detected in the Edson Forest Area.

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:

• Carefully select your burn site and do not burn until you have good snow cover in the area.
• Check weather conditions and refrain from burning when an inversion is in place or is forecasted.
• Actively manage burn projects to reduce total burning time.
• Burn debris in stages so that you can adapt to changing weather conditions and reduce smoke. 
• Ensure you have the right tools, water and equipment on hand to keep the burn under control.
• Consult your local municipality on how to safely undertake larger winter burning projects near communities or roads. 

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: 

• name of landowner burning or company and representative name.
• phone number in case of emergency.
• legal land description or latitude/longitude.

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.

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:

• 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.