Edson Area Update

A fire ban remains in effect for the entire Forest Protection Area of Alberta.

Weather conditions continues to call for high (30+) temperatures with little precipitation in the next week. There will be a chance of lightning in the evenings and the wildfire danger remains extreme. Continue to exercise caution in forested areas.

Thank you for your cooperation in following the fire bans in place. Everyone has a part to play in preventing wildfire.

 

If you see smoke or flame in the forest and suspect it's a wildfire, call 310-FIRE (3473) to report it.

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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.

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WF069 was detected at 4:20 pm. Aircraft, firefights and ground equipment are on site 

(July 16, 2024).

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ACTIVE WILDFIRES IN THE EDSON FOREST AREA 

EWF069 is located approximately 25 kilometers southwest of Wolf Lake campground. It is approximately 1 ha in size and classified as Out of Control. 12 firefighters are currently on scene and  supported by four aircraft, eight pieces of heavy equipment and three engines on site.  The cause of the wildfire is under investigation.

EWF061 is currently Under Control 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 16 members of our Indigenous Fire crew assigned to this wildfire, with equipment on standby if needed. Firefighters are actively searching for and extinguishing hotspots using water pumps and hoses. This process can take some time but is essential to ensure the fire is fully extinguished. Hotspots are located well within the site, and the perimeter is contained.

EWF067 is extinguished. Lightening was determined to be the cause of this wildfire.  Crews with the assistance of a helicopter were able to extinguish it shortly after detection.

EWF068 is extinguished. Lightening was determined to be the cause of this wildfire.  Crews with the assistance of a helicopter were able to extinguish it shortly after detection.

 

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REPORTED DRONE USE IN THE EDSON FOREST PROTECTION AREA

There have been reports of drones being flown in and around restricted air space.  If there are drones in areas where aircraft is being used to either fight a fire or near airtanker bases then we are unable to continue those flights until the space is cleared.

The restricted airspace around a wildfire automatically includes a minimum radius of five nautical miles (9.26 km) and to an altitude of 3,000 feet above ground level. Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARS) 601.16 allows us to place a Restriction Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) over wildfires when we need more space for air operations. It’s important to check for additional airspace restrictions close to fire traffic areas. The operation of any aircraft near a wildfire that is not associated with suppression activities including drones is illegal. It also poses a serious threat to the safety of firefighting personnel. 

Transport Canada explicitly prohibits the use of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) or drones of any size near a wildfire. Under CARS 601.15 all wildfires are considered to be automatically “flight restricted” according to the federal Canadian Aviation Regulations.  

Under Alberta’s Forest and Prairie Protection Act, anyone found interfering with wildfire control efforts (including flying drones) can face an automatic court appearance. 

When you fly a drone over or near an Alberta wildfire, you’re breaking the law, endangering firefighting personnel and may cause firefighting operations to stop. 

Before you fly your drone make sure you understand the rules that apply and follow them.  

For more information, please visit:

Safety for drones and firefighting aircraft

or

Transport Canada’s legal requirements

 

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EDSON FOREST AREA WILDFIRE UPDATE

The wildfire danger in the Edson Forest Area is  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 68 wildfires in the Edson Forest Area burning a total of 163.98 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.

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PROVINCIAL WILDFIRE UPDATE

The fire danger is moderate to high in the northern Rockies and very high to extreme throughout the rest of the province.

Since January 1, there have been 801 wildfires recorded in the Forest Protection Area that have burned 279,400.35 hectares.

Last year, on this date, there was 854 wildfires that burnt a total of 2,110,732.85 ha. In the past 5 years on this date, an average of 696 wildfires had burnt 614,045 ha.

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

Wildfires of note:   

There are four wildfires of note in the Forest Protection Area. These will be updated after 11 a.m. 

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FIRE PERMITS ARE REQUIRED

Under a FIRE BAN, all permits are cancelled or suspended and no new permits will be issued. 

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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.

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.