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.

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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, which are both being held.

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 on April 21 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. Currently, firefighters are monitoring this wildfire.

(MWF012 is now classified as being held, April 22, 2024)

MWF012 was discovered on April 21 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 being held and is approximately 67 hectares in size. The cause of this wildfire is under investigation.

Last night, we had our nighttime visibility helicopter bucketing on the wildfire, along with a nighttime crew and heavy equipment group. Very mild fire behaviour was witnessed last night, highlighting the good work our crews have been doing for the last two days.

Today, we again have four firefighting crews, six helicopters, two airtanker groups, and five heavy equipment groups working on this wildfire.

Currently, the entire wildfire perimeter is 90% contained. This means that given current weather conditions and resources, 90% of the wildfire is not anticipated to grow past expected boundaries. The remaining 10% will continue to be worked on by crews, with the aim of achieving 100% containment across the entire perimeter.

The RMWB has rescinded their Evacuation Alert for Saprae Creek Estates, for more information go to the RMWB 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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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.

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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