Never leave your cooking or warming fire unattended and always ensure you fully extinguish it. Soak the ashes, stir them and soak them again until they're cool to the touch.
Use extra caution when working near cured grass and dry vegetation. These fuels could catch easily and burn very quickly. Clear your hotspots on your harvesting equipment and off-highway vehicles.
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.
The Edson Forest Area wildland firefighters responded to five new wildfires yesterday. They're all suspected to be caused by downed powerlines due to a wind event (EWF111 on October 8, 2024).
EDSON FOREST AREA WILDFIRE UPDATE
The wildfire danger in the Edson Forest Area remains MODERATE. This means that if a wildfire were to occur the fire behaviour would exhibit creeping or gentle surface fire along the forest floor. View the forecasted fire danger map.
Since January 1, 2024, there have been 114 wildfires in the Edson Forest Area burning a total of 290.48 ha.
EWF110 is classified as UNDER CONTROL and estimated to be 0.10 ha in size.
EWF111 is classified as UNDER CONTROL and estimated to be 0.20 ha in size.
EWF112 is classified as BEING HELD and estimated to be 0.01 ha in size.
EWF113 is classified as UNDER CONTROL and estimated to be 0.10 ha in size.
EWF114 is now classified as EXTINGUISHED and estimated to be 0.01 ha in size.
These wildfires remain under investigation but currently suspected to be caused by downed powerlines due to a wind event. 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.
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.
IF YOU PLAN TO HARVEST IT - GET YOUR PERMIT
Personal Use Forest Products Permits 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 4 permits – up to one permit each for: firewood. Christmas trees, roundwood and transplants.
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 during fire season, which ends on October 31. 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.
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:
Prune your trees. A swift-moving grass fire will travel easily from the ground into trees if there are low-hanging branches. Trees growing too close together will also help a fire spread quickly. A little pruning will improve your yard’s potential to withstand a wildfire. Remove tree branches up to two metres from the ground. Remove thick shrubbery and deadfall out to 1.5 metres from the edge of the drip line. Keep a space of three to six metres between the tops of your trees.
Check your chimney. Make sure your chimney is up to code and has spark arrestor screens installed. Your diligence can help prevent stray embers or sparks from travelling onto your roof or into your yard where they could start a wildfire.
Clean your roof and eaves. Leaves, spruce cones, pine cones, twigs and other combustible debris that can fall on your roof and collect in your eaves can be a fire hazard. Sparks or flying embers from burn barrels, firepits, chimneys or even wildfires can land on your roof and ignite the litter. Removing the debris reduces the chance of a fire starting on your roof. Put a fire extinguisher in every vehicle You might not be able to put a wildfire out with a fire extinguisher, but you could prevent one from starting.
Balers are notorious for causing fires. A fire extinguisher can help control fires started from hot bearings on farm equipment that could ignite entire fields. Nothing says “I love you” like a fire extinguisher. Next time you’re searching for that perfect gift for your loved one, think: fire extinguisher!
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.
For more information, please contact:
