Fort McMurray Forest Area Wildfire Update

WILDFIRE DANGER

The wildfire danger is VERY HIGH in the Fort McMurray Forest Area.

A FIRE ADVISORY is in effect for the Fort McMurray Forest Area.

Wildfires can start very easily in this type of weather. Even with some snow on the ground, fires can still start and spread quickly.

Report wildfires by calling 310-FIRE (3473).

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Due to the current and forecasted Fire Weather Indices the Fort McMurray Forest Area will be under a Fire Advisory.

Under this advisory new fire permits will be issued on a case by case basis. All existing permits remain valid, however, renewals may not be granted. Safe wood campfires are not affected by this advisory.

Allowed:

Safe wood campfires *
Backyard fire pits
Portable propane fire pits
Gas or propane stoves and barbecues
Catalytic or infrared-style heaters

*Safe wood campfires - should be within a metal, brick, or rock fire ring. They are required to:

a) be on rock, gravel, sand, or another non-combustible surface that extends at least one meter around the fire;
b) have a responsible person in attendance to keep fire under control at all times and extinguish before leaving;
c) have on hand enough water on site to extinguish the fire. Safe wood campfires on private lands include private land campgrounds and private land recreation areas; and
d) Municipalities, Parks and protected areas may have additional fire safety requirements.

We recommend any landowners who have done burning over the winter months revisit the burn locations and ensure that these fires are extinguished and cold to the touch. As the snow melts, fine fuels like grasses become dry and receptive to ground fire. Smoke may not be present from these burn piles that are still smoldering, but they could still be burning allowing them to reignite and could cause a wildfire.

Stay informed of fire restrictions and fire bans in your area by checking www.albertafirebans.ca

The fire advisory will remain in effect until conditions improve.

Wildfire update

Since January 1, 2024, there have been 12 wildfires in the Fort McMurray Forest Area. They have all been extinguished, except for two, one of which is being held and one is out of control.

There are currently four carryover wildfires burning in the Fort McMurray Forest Area. All of these wildfires are carryover fires from the 2023 wildfire season and are under control. They are being monitored by firefighters.

MWF010 was discovered yesterday and is located in the Birch Mountains, near the corner of where the Fort McMurray Forest Area meets the Slave Lake Forest Area border and the High Level Forest Area border. It is classified as being held and is approximately 53 hectares in size. This wildfire was human caused. Currently, firefighters are monitoring this wildfire.

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(An aerial image of MWF012 from 7:30 PM on April 21, 2024)

MWF012 was discovered yesterday and is located southeast of Fort McMurray, on the south side of the Clearwater River. The western flank of this wildfire is approximately 4.5 kilometers east of Saprae Creek Estates. It is currently classified as out of control and now that visibility has improved, wildfire managers were able to get a more accurate size, which is approximately 67 hectares. The cause of this wildfire is currently under investigation. Currently, we have four firefighting crews, six helicopters, two airtanker groups, and five heavy equipment groups working on this wildfire.

Yesterday crews and resources worked to strengthen the fire guard along the western flank of the wildfire. They are working towards containing that flank of the fire and then they will work towards controlling it.

Last night, we had a night visibility helicopter bucketing on the wildfire into the early morning which helped to slow fire growth. We plan to have the night visibility helicopter bucketing on the wildfire tonight again as well, as long as conditions permit.

This morning, we will have the two airtanker groups lay down more fire retardant along the western flank of the wildfire. Crews are also focusing on the western flank of the wildfire and one spot fire.

The RMWB has issued an Evacuation Alert for Saprae Creek Estates, for more information go to the RMWB website.

DRONES are not allowed to be flown within five nautical miles (or 9.3 kilometers) of a wildfire. If you fly a drone within this distance of a wildfire, it immediately halts aerial firefighting operations because it is not safe to be flying with drones in the air. The penalty for interfering with wildfire control operations can land you a court appearance, for more information go to the Government of Alberta website.

For more information from Transport Canada about drones near wildfires, visit Transport Canada's website.

For up-to-date information on the current wildfire situation, visit Alberta Wildfire Status.

Download the Alberta Wildfire App for Apple or Android.

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Spring wildfires

Springtime is a dangerous time for wildfires: cured grass is a fine fuel that can catch on fire easily and spread fire quickly. This means everyone should use caution when recreating outdoors, whether using a cooking or warming fire or when conducting an authorized burn.

Weather and wind can change quickly, ensure you are paying attention to changing weather conditions when having a fire or conducting an authorized burn, as embers can fly from your burn and start a fire several kilometers away.

Always get a fire permit for any burning project, other than a campfire, and always follow our safe burning guidelines.

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OHV (Off-highway vehicle) safety

Always remember to recreate safely, it's everyone's responsibility. Check the hotspots on your OHV to ensure there's no smouldering debris that can fall off and start a wildfire.

It's good practice to equip your OHV with a bucket able to hold at least 5 litres and a shovel or an axe. This will help to ensure that any smouldering debris can be properly extinguished in a timely fashion before it causes a wildfire.

For more information: OHV safety.

CONTACT

Emily Smith

Wildfire Information Officer | Fort McMurray Forest Area

Phone: 780-799-9253

Email: emily.smith@gov.ab.ca

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