Edson Area Update

Unless the situation changes, the next update will be 12 noon, Friday May 5.

A FIRE BAN is in place in the eastern portion of the Edson Forest Area and a FIRE RESTRICTION remains in effect for the rest of Edson Forest Area.

Alberta Wildfire, Yellowhead County and Parkland County are responding to multiple wildfires in the area.

Dry grass can catch easily and burn quickly. Any spark, hot exhaust or friction can cause a wildfire. Avoid working near or on dry vegetation to help prevent wildfires.

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

A new wildfire located 25km west of Lodgepole and 20 km northwest of Brazeau Dam was discovered earlier today. It is creating a large smoke column that is visible in the surrounding area. This wildfire has been reported and is currently being actioned by Alberta Wildfire resources. More information on this wildfire is located in the "Active Wildfires" section below. It is wildfire EWF-031.

ACTIVE WILDFIRES

WCU002 has now been named the Deep Creek Wildfire and was detected on the evening of April 29 and is a mutual aid wildfire located on both sides of Highway 22, north of Highway 16. The wildfire is currently burning out of control. The wildfire was re-assessed and is now estimated to be 2,400 ha in size. The fire is burning in a mixture of grass, shrub, trees and marsh. Both Yellowhead County and Alberta Wildfire are actioning this wildfire.

Today, a total of 16 pieces of heavy equipment and five helicopters will be assisting 55 firefighters. Most fire activity was primarily in the interior of the wildfire this morning and this afternoon there was some spread to the north. Firefighters will continue to work in high priority areas to reinforce and complete containment lines specifically to the north fire boundary line.

Airtankers were active on the northside of the wildfire perimeter to prevent further spread of the fire and to try and keep the fire south of Township Road 550.

Tomorrow firefighters will be working near the rural subdivision of Lobstick Resort and the hamlet of Wildwood. Also east of Range Road 92 and towards the south side of Township Road 544 to prevent spread to the north of Chip Lake. Firefighters will also be working on the north side of the fire, west side of Highway 22. Alberta Wildfire will be assisting Yellowhead County as required on the east of Highway 22 to prevent further spread towards Evansburg. There will be more crews working on the northside of the wildfire to start to build a containment line to prevent further spread.

More hot and dry conditions are expected to continue. Temperatures will remain in the high 20’s throughout the day. Tomorrow, winds will be out of the southeast 30-35 km/h with gusts of 55 km/h. No precipitation is expected in the next 48 hours. 

We encourage anyone who suspects a wildfire that is not indicated on our app to report it to 310-FIRE.

If you have any questions or concerns about this wildfire (WCU002) please call the Wildfire Information Officer at 780-653-0153 and press 2 for information. For all other wildfires in the Edson Forest Area please call 780-237-4483. 

For all other wildfires, please report by calling 310-FIRE.

Smoke column from EWF-031 (May 4, 2023)

EWF031 was detected on May 4 and is located 25 km west of Lodgepole and 20 km northwest of Brazeau Dam. The fire is classified as out of control and estimated to be 3736 ha in size. 

EWF026 was detected on May 3 and is located 13 km north of Hwy 16, east of the McLeod River. The fire is classified as under control and estimated to be 1 ha in size. 

EWF025 was detected on May 2 and is located 12 km west of the Pembina River, 14 km south of Highway 16. The fire is classified as under control and estimated to be 1.80 ha in size. 

EWF021 was detected on April 30 and is located in Marlboro. The fire is now classified as under control and estimated to be 8.72 ha in size.

EWF015 was detected on April 29 and is located 3.5 km north east of Peers. It is now classified as under control and estimated to be 46.57 ha in size. 

WCU001 was detected on April 29 and is classified as being held, located approximately 9 km southeast of Evansburg. AB Wildfire is assisting Parkland County. Alberta Wildfire has firefighters, a helicopter and heavy equipment assigned to the wildfire. A dozer group and heavy equipment are on site. The estimated size is currently 503 ha.

The above wildfires remain under investigation. To learn more about wildfire classifications, click here. 

For more information, visit our website and click on the interactive map to view active wildfires and their stats on the wildfire dashboard. 

Deep Creek Fire (WCU002) May 4th AM, 2023 public map 

Note: The wildfire perimeter map is an estimate based on measurements such as GPS, aerial scanning and satellite imagery. This estimated perimeter can change as more accurate measurements become available. Areas within the fire perimeter may not have been affected by wildfire. 

Click on the map for the PDF version. 

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Crews will be working on wildfire Deep Creek Fire (WCU002), searching for and extinguishing hotspots. (May 4, 2023)

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COMMUNITY EMERGENCY INFORMATION 

EVACUATION ORDER 

As of 8:25 pm on May 4, 2023 - Yellowhead County has issued an evacuation order for Evansburg, Wildwood, Lobstick, and Hansonville. 

Please visit www.yhcounty.ca for evacuation notices and re-entry packages that includes advice about returning to your homes and evacuation centers and contact information for services you may need to access. For updates from Yellowhead County, please visit the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/yellowheadcounty 

For updates from Parkland County and evacuation information, please visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ParklandCountyAB. Residents in the affected areas can contact the Emergency Information Line at 1-780-968-8888.

For road closure information, please visit: https://511.alberta.ca/#:Alerts 

For residents with health concerns related to smoke you can find the air quality map here: https://www.alberta.ca/about-the-air-quality-health-index.aspx

If you have smoke related health concerns, please contact AB 811 click here for more information.

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EDSON FOREST AREA WILDFIRE UPDATE

The wildfire danger in the Edson Forest Area is now EXTREME due to dry vegetation, no snow coverage and very little precipitation. Dry grass can catch easily and burn quickly. Always keep watch of your surroundings and avoid work that can cause friction, hot exhaust or spark near dry vegetation. 

Since January 1, 2023, there have been 32 wildfires in the Edson Forest Area burning a total of 3,802 ha.

*Mutual aid wildfires are not calculated in the Edson Forest Area total. 

Visit our website and click on the interactive map to view active wildfires and their stats on the wildfire dashboard. 

PROVINCIAL WILDFIRE UPDATE 

Since January 1, 2023 in the Forest Protection Area, there have been 342 wildfires burning a total of 11,838 ha.

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• All existing Fire Permits are suspended (or cancelled)
• No new Fire Permits will be issued

• All outdoor wood fires are banned, including wood campfires on public lands, wood campfires on private land and provincial campgrounds
• Backyard firepits
• BBQ charcoal briquettes
• The use of fireworks and exploding targets

• Propane/natural gas-powered appliances
• Open flame oil devices (e.g., turkey deep fryers, tiki torches)
• Indoor wood fires contained within a device with a chimney and spark arrestor
• All appliances must be CSA approved and used per manufacturer’s standards

• All outdoor wood fires are banned on public lands, including backcountry and random camping areas. The use of fireworks and exploding targets are also prohibited.

• Safe wood campfires (including charcoal briquettes) on private lands and in provincial campgrounds.
• Backyard fire pits, charcoal briquette barbeques.
• Propane/ natural gas powered appliances.
• Indoor wood fires contained within a device with a chimney and spark arrestor.
• Cooking, warming and lighting devices – all devices must be CSA approved and used as per manufacturer’s standards.

The fire restriction will remain in effect until fuel and weather conditions improve.

Stay tuned to www.albertafirebans.ca throughout the wildfire season for more information about fire bans and restrictions in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta.

WE URGE RESIDENTS AND RECREATIONALISTS TO USE EXTRA CAUTION

Due to the current dry grass, warm weather and possible windy conditions, there is an increased risk of wildfires in the Edson Forest Area. We urge residents and visitors to exercise caution and take the following precautions:

• Do not start any fires or use open flames in areas that are susceptible to catching fire, such as near dry vegetation like grass or wooded areas.
• Dispose of cigarettes and other smoking materials properly, do not throw them on the ground.
• If you see a wildfire, immediately call 310-FIRE (3473) and report the location of the fire.
• Avoid using equipment that could generate sparks, friction or flames, such as power tools or lawn mowers, in areas with dry vegetation.
• Ensure grinders and welders are properly maintained and used in areas that are free from dry vegetation. Have sufficient water and tools on hand. Always keep watch of your surroundings and look around at regular intervals for smoke or flames that may have been accidently ignited.

We encourage everyone to stay informed about the current wildfire risk and to follow any guidance or orders from emergency personnel. By working together and taking proactive steps, we can help reduce the risk of wildfires in our community.

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WILDFIRE PREVENTION TIPS

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.