The wildfire danger level is extreme across the Fort McMurray Forest Area.
A fire ban is in effect for the entire Fort McMurray Forest Area.
To see where the smoke is coming from, check out the FireSmoke website.
Hangingstone Provincial Recreation Area and Richardson Wildland Park have been closed to the public effective immediately.
67% of wildfires are human-caused, everyone plays a role in preventing wildfires. Take the wildfire pledge to reduce wildfires and be entered to win a helicopter tour! Go to alberta.ca/wildfire-pledge.
Wildfire MCX002 - Cattail Complex
There are several wildfires that are all being managed together under MCX002. This includes MWF047, MWF077 and MWF079. All of these wildfires are classified as out of control, except for MWF079 which is being held. All of these wildfires were caused by lightning.
There are 267 personnel currently working on this complex, including 153 firefighters, 59 incident management team members, support staff and contractors. We have 19 helicopters and 30 pieces of heavy equipment working this complex.
MWF047- estimated to be 105,515 ha in size. See the most recent map available.
Currently, MWF047 is approximately:
- 6.8 km northeast of industrial facilities.
- 53 km northeast of Fort McKay.
- 68 km northeast of Fort McMurray.
MWF077- estimated to be 19,122 ha in size. See the most recent map available.
Currently, MWF077 is approximately:
- 6.7 km south of industrial facilities.
- 46 km east of Fort McKay.
- 48 km northeast of Fort McMurray.
Today, crews and helicopters are again a bit delayed in getting out to the fireline. The significant smoke cover is helping to keep humidities higher which assists to lower fire behaviour. This circumstance can be challenging because if winds were to pick up and clear some smoke fire activity would increase. We don't anticipate significant fire activity or growth today, unless the smoke clears and then we would expect fire activity to pick up.
Crews are being moved to locations along the fireline that are accessible by Haglunds or Nodwells to ensure they could still get out to the fireline. This is a type of heavy equipment that can move crews and gear by ground on uneven terrain. This means we don't have to wait for the smoke to clear as much as if we were going to move them all by helicopter.
Today, ignition operations may be considered if the right conditions present themselves. Ignition operations can help to straighten out the wildfire perimeter, making it an easier and often shorter line for firefighters to work on. This means they can cover more perimeter quicker, than with a snaking wildfire perimeter.
Last night, we had a nighttime capable drone monitoring the wildfires in this complex overnight. This drone is given special clearance to fly within our NOTAM (Notice to Air Mission) and is controlled by an operator who is trained and qualified in how to safely operate this aircraft. This drone can pinpoint specific locations, monitor fire growth, and the operator can then notify the incident management team if the wildfire(s) were close to impacting nearby values. This drone is a critical resource for nighttime firefighting operations and is a fairly new piece of technology in the wildland firefighting world.
As a reminder, operators of drones that DO NOT have special clearance to fly within our NOTAM are breaking the law and the penalty for interfering with wildfire control operations can land you a court appearance, go to the Government of Alberta website, or for more information from Transport Canada about drones near wildfires, visit Transport Canada's website.
Yesterday, the retardant application truck was able to spray over 100 power poles. Today, we will again assess new areas where our retardant application truck may be able to put down lines of retardant. This vehicle can spray retardant into the ditch or on the ground near power poles and is an effective way to add more retardant in key locations in a more precise way than with airtankers. We've completed this work in the most critical areas and will determine the next most critical areas.
The forecast is predicting conditions conducive to extreme fire behaviour for the next few days. This means we can expect some significant fire growth. The forecast for the next few days predict that we will have very challenging firefighting days ahead of us.
Today, the forecast predicts a high of 36 degrees Celsius and a low relative humidity of 20-25 per cent. Winds are expected to come from the southeast-northeast at 10-15 km/h. No chance of rain in the forecast.
Normally, this forecast would suggest crossover conditions, which is conducive to extreme fire behaviour. However, with the additional smoke cover today, we don't anticipate extreme fire behaviour unless the smoke were to clear. Then fire activity would significantly pick up.
(Smoky conditions are expected to persist over the next few days, July 20, 2024)
Wildfire MCX003 - Algar Lake Complex
- MWF086 – size updated to 1,682 hectares – classified as out of control
- MWF069 – size updated to 16,456 hectares – classified as out of control
Air operations continue to be grounded this morning at the Algar Lake Complex due to smoke drift and a low ceiling, causing poor visibility. During smoky conditions, less sunlight can reach the ground, which can have a slight cooling effect. As a result, temperatures in the area of the complex did not quite reach the daytime highs that had been forecast yesterday. We may see similar conditions today, but if the smoke lifts (which can happen quickly), very hot and dry conditions are forecast for the Fort McMurray Forest Area, maintaining the probability of intense fire behaviour.
For more information and a visual representation of smoke drift patterns and forecasts, you can consult the interactive map at firesmoke.ca.
MWF086 is a lightning-caused fire that started on July 16. Located north of MWF069, this fire is not causing any immediate concerns.
MWF069 started on July 10 as a series of smaller lightning-caused fires that all merged into this larger fire. It is located approximately:
- 10 km west of Highway 63
- 40 km southwest of Fort McMurray
Good overnight recoveries for relative humidity values at the Algar Lake Complex, which were higher than 90% early this morning.
A high of 31 degrees Celsius is expected for Saturday, with relative humidity values expected to dip to 25%. Crossover conditions are possible when and if the low ceiling caused by smoke in the air lifts throughout the day. Southeasterly to easterly winds at 10 km/h are anticipated. A trace amount of rain is possible, along with the possibility for afternoon thunderstorms. This will not be sufficient precipitation to significantly impact burning conditions, as Northern Alberta continues to experience drought-like conditions through the weekend.
The structure protection teams that have been assigned to the Algar Lake Complex for the past week have completed their assessment and planning phase in areas surrounding MWF069 and MWF086. With the current amount of active fire on the landscape across a large portion of the Fort McMurray Forest Area, these teams will now be shared resources with other nearby fire complexes. This means that the structure protection teams will now be managed by the Fort McMurray Forest Area. While the number of assigned personnel for the Algar Lake Complex (below) has dropped as a result, these resources do remain available to the Complex, and staff will still be ready to activate structure protection equipment in the event it is required. Equipment that is in place continues to be tested and is ready to respond.
There are 111 personnel from Alberta, New Brunswick and Ontario assigned to the Algar Lake Complex. Among them are forest firefighters, heavy equipment operators, a structure protection group supervisor, an ignition team, and a 15-person incident management team.
Seven helicopters and eleven pieces of heavy equipment are dedicated to MCX003.
An ignition team continues to identify opportunities for tying strategically identified sections of the fire into natural boundaries. They are also putting in place continency plans, which involve a more defensive strategy, designed to identify potential fire management options, in the event that an active fire moves in an unfavorable direction. Ignition operations can help to slow the progression of an active fire by creating a lower intensity fire ahead of a fire exhibiting high fire behaviour. Reducing the availability of forest fuels in the path of a fire can also lead to slowing down its spread and reducing its intensity. Some established ignition plans have been approved. They are ready to be put into operation if they become required. Planned controlled ignition operations are always completed under the supervision of fire management specialists, and require the right weather and fire behaviour conditions.
The safety of Albertans and of firefighting personnel is of the utmost importance.
Firefighting crews are travelling into their worksites by ground transportation this morning, as air operations continue to be grounded due to low visibility. They remain focused on the northeast corner of the fire perimeter, with the goal of limiting fire spread toward highway 63. They will continue to establish hose lines around the fire perimeter and action hot spots within it.
Heavy equipment teams are pushing northward as they continue to establish control lines, and clear paths for crews to be transported through the forest by ground transportation, allowing them to access further work sites around the perimeter in the coming days.
(A group from the heavy equipment team breaks out for a briefing about strategies and tactics. July 19, 2024)
Download the 511 app to stay up to date on any road closures in Alberta. This wildfire could impact visibility on Highway 63, always drive with extreme caution.
MCX004 - Rabbit Lake Complex
(MWF060, MWF078, and MWF074)
MWF060 is located approximately 5 km east of the Slave Lake Forest Area border and the Fort McMurray Forest Area border. It is also and estimated to be 13,000 ha in size. This wildfire is classified as out of control and was caused by lightning.
MWF074 is located northeast of MWF060, is 400 ha in size and is classified as out of control.
MWF078 is located southwest of MWF060, is 1,600 ha in size, and is classified as out of control.
Structure protection is planned to be set up on some nearby infrastructure. More resources have been requested for this complex.
A fire ban is in effect as of 4 p.m. on July 10 in the entire Forest Protection Area of Alberta, including the Fort McMurray 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.
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.
- 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.
See the fire ban factsheet.
More information on the fire ban for Fort McMurray's Urban Service Area
For more information, visit Alberta Fire Bans.
See the forecasted fire danger map
FORT MCMURRAY WILDFIRE UPDATE
Since January 1, 2024 there have been 88 wildfires in the Fort McMurray Forest Area, burning a total of approximately 190,601 hectares (ha).
MWF043 was discovered on July 2 and is located approximately 18 km west of the Athabasca River and 56 km south of the southern Wood Buffalo National Park border. It is classified as out of control and is estimated to be 900 ha in size. This wildfire was caused by lightning.
MWF068 was discovered on July 10 and is located approximately 4.5 km east of the High Level Forest Area border and 13 km north of the Slave Lake Forest Area border. It is classified as being held and is estimated to be 100 ha in size. This wildfire was caused by lightning.
MWF045 was discovered on July 2 and is located approximately 23 km south of the Wood Buffalo National Park border. It is classified as being held and is estimated to be 2,300 ha in size. This wildfire was caused by lightning.
MWF056 was discovered July 3 and is located approximately 41 km north of the Cattail Complex (MCX002). It is classified as being held and is estimated to be 400 ha in size. This wildfire was caused by lightning.
MWF010 was discovered on April 21 and is located near the Birch Mountains. It is classified as under control at 7,976 ha in size. This means that this wildfire is contained and will be extinguished. This wildfire was human-caused.
MWF017 was discovered on May 9 and is located southwest of Fort McMurray. It is classified as under control at 18,593 ha. This means that this wildfire is contained and will be extinguished. The cause of this wildfire remains under investigation.
MWF065 was discovered July 9 and is located approximately 7 km southeast of Highway 63 and approximately 3.4 km from Maqua Lake. It is classified as under control and is estimated to be 6 ha in size. This wildfire was caused by lightning.
MWF067 was discovered on July 10 and is located approximately 4 km southwest of Gregoire Lake 176. It is classified as under control and is currently 0.3 ha in size. This wildfire was caused by lightning.
For up-to-date information on the current wildfire situation, visit Alberta Wildfire Status.
SAFETY AROUND SKIMMERS (Water Bombers)
If you're planning to be out on the lake this weekend, please keep in mind that skimmer planes are often using various lakes to refill with water.
This is another critical resource for firefighting operations, so we ask anyone on water bodies to stay alert and watch out for skimmers. If you see a skimmer coming towards a water body, ensure you get within 30 metres of shore so they can safely refill.
DRONES are not allowed to be flown within 5 nautical miles (or 9.3 kilometers) of a wildfire.
If you fly a drone within this distance of a wildfire, it immediately halts 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, go to the Government of Alberta website.
For more information from Transport Canada about drones near wildfires, visit Transport Canada's website.
Always be cautious when recreating outdoors.
Off-highway vehicles (OHVs) have exhaust systems that get hotter than 200°C. At these temperatures, built-up materials (such as grass, muskeg, moss, or other debris) can heat up, smoulder and ignite.
These can fall to the ground as you are riding, starting a wildfire.
CONTACT:
Isabelle Chenard
Wildfire Information Officer | MCX003 Algar Lake Complex
Phone: 587-919-7419
Email: isabelle.chenard@ontario.ca
RELATED INFORMATION
- Alberta Wildfire
- Alberta Fire Bans
- FireSmart in Alberta
- Alberta Emergency Alerts
- Air Quality Health Index
- Wildfire Smoke and Your Health
- 511 Road Reports
- Emergency Preparation
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