Fort McMurray Area Update

Fort McMurray Forest Area Wildfire Update - May 28, 2024

Written by Alberta Wildfire | May 28, 2024 2:26:06 PM

The wildfire danger is high south of Lake Athabasca and is very high north of lake Athabasca within the Fort McMurray Forest Area.

Wildfire MWF017, located southwest of Fort McMurray, is now classified as under control.

A fire ban is in effect north of Lake Athabasca and a fire advisory is in effect south of Lake Athabasca within the Fort McMurray Forest Area.

Report wildfires by calling 310-FIRE (3473).

FORT MCMURRAY WILDFIRE UPDATE

Since January 1, 2024 there have been 27 wildfires in the Fort McMurray Forest Area, burning a total of approximately 26,643 hectares (ha). 

There are currently two carryover wildfires from the 2023 season burning in the Fort McMurray Forest Area. Both of these wildfires are under control. They are being monitored by firefighters.

Aerial view of MWF017 now classified as under control, May 27. 

MWF017

MWF017 is now classified as under control. This means that this wildfire is contained and will be extinguished. Thank you to all the firefighters and support staff who have worked hard over the past few weeks to get this fire under control. There were many challenging days and long hours but it’s rewarding to see this wildfire has been updated to under control. There is still work to be done to fully extinguish this fire, but our firefighters are up for the challenge.

MWF017 was detected on May 9 and remains at 18,593 hectares.

The closest point of the fire remains at about 5.5 km from the Fort McMurray landfill and 4.5 km from the intersection of highways 63 and 881.

Temperatures today will be approximately 23°C with winds out of the southwest 15km/h gusting 30km/h at times.

Although this fire is contained crews will still be on the fireline looking for and extinguishing any remaining hotspots within the perimeter. There is minimal ground fire that crews will need to extinguish.

There are 151 firefighters and 15 helicopters assigned to this wildfire

The cause of this wildfire remains under investigation.

For the latest public map of MWF017 please click here.

Jean Lake Complex (MXC001) is made up of two wildfires (HWF021 and MWF010), located near Birch Mountains. MWF010 is 7,976 hectares in size and HWF021 is 378 hectares. Both are classified as under control and do not pose a threat to any community. 

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

Download the Alberta Wildfire App for Apple or Android.

FIRE BAN IN EFFECT (NORTH OF LAKE ATHABASCA)

See Alberta Fire Bans for a map of the area affected. 

Under this fire ban:

  • All existing fire permits are suspended (or cancelled)
  • No new fire permits will be issued

Prohibited:

  • All outdoor wood fires are banned, including wood campfires on public lands, wood campfires on private land and provincial campgrounds
  • Backyard fire pits
  • BBQ charcoal briquettes
  • The use of fireworks and exploding targets
  • The recreational use of off-highway vehicles (OHV) on public lands, including designated OHV trails

Allowed:

  • 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
  • Indigenous people when using an OHV for traditional purposes. Traditional purposes are hunting, fishing, and trapping – including the use of an OHV to travel to the location(s) for these purposes.
  • Essential industry-related activities requiring the use of OHVs.
  • Off-highway vehicle use is still permitted on private lands.

The fire ban will remain in effect until conditions improve.

FIRE ADVISORY IN EFFECT (SOUTH OF LAKE ATHABASCA)

See Alberta Fire Bans for a map of the area affected. 

Under this advisory:
Existing fire permits remain valid, but extension requests may not be granted.

  • New permits will be issued on a case-by-case basis, for essential burning only.
  • Campfires are allowed in both designated campgrounds and random camping areas.
  • Fireworks and exploding targets are prohibited.

We encourage any landowners who have done burning over the winter and that have had past fire permits to revisit the burn location to ensure these fires are fully extinguished.

The fire advisory will remain in effect until conditions improve or further escalation is required.

If you see a wildfire, report it immediately by calling 310-FIRE.

Drones are not allowed 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 for aircraft to be flying with drones in the air. Interfering with wildfire control operations can land you a court appearance.

See Transport Canada's Forest fires and drones fact sheet for more information.

Take wildfire prevention to new heights with our Wildfire Pledge Campaign!

Pledge today to reduce wildfires across the Fort McMurray Forest Area and you'll be entered to win an educational helicopter ride!

Take the pledge here: alberta.ca/wildfire-pledge

Everyone has a role to play in preventing wildfires. You can reduce the risk of your vehicle causing a wildfire by following these simple steps:

  • Before you ride, clean out hot spots and remove debris from your machine.
  • After riding through muskeg or tall grass, stop and remove any build-up from your machine.
  • Carry firefighting equipment such as a small shovel, collapsible pail or fire extinguisher.
  • Wash your OHV and keep it clean – do not wash in streams and creeks.
  • Make sure your muffler and spark arrestor are working properly.
  • Stop frequently. Take the time to knock debris from your machine’s hot spots. If the debris is smouldering, soak it, stir it, and soak it again to make sure it is extinguished.
For more information, see Off-highway vehicles: Wildfire prevention tips.

CONTACT:

 

Emily Smith

Wildfire Information Officer | Fort McMurray Forest Area

Phone: 780-799-9253

Email:emily.smith@gov.ab.ca

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