Today the Grande Prairie Forest Area had three new wildfire starts. Two of these fires were caused by lightning and quickly extinguished by Alberta Wildfire crews working with helicopter and bucket. Wildfire GWF 026 located kilometer 30 on the Canfor Haul road is currently listed as under control and under investigation. Alberta Wildfire Crews worked with Canfor's  Emergency Personal to control this blaze.

Temperatures are expected in the mid twenties with relative humidity at 30% range for the weekend. Winds will be South West at 25 km/hr with gusts up to 45 km/hr tomorrow, The potential for numerous lightning caused fires will continue to be a concern over the next few days as winds are expecting to be gusty and forest fuels dry, any strikes may smolder. New lightning caused wildfires are possible; be alert when in the forest. 

Jurisdictions outside the Forest Protection Area (FPA), including municipalities and provincial parks, may issue their own fire restrictions or bans. Please check albertafirebans.ca daily for detailed information about restrictions and locations

The wildfire danger in the Grande Prairie area is Very High. A Fire Ban and an Off-Highway Vehicle Restriction  is in place for parts of the Province of Alberta, including the Grande Prairie Forest Area effective May 22, 2019.  Existing Fire Permits are canceled and no new fire permits will be issued. Many municipalities outside the Forest Protection Area also have fire bans and restrictions. The Fire Ban and Off-Highway Vehicle Restriction will remain in effect until conditions improve. 

Copies of the Ministerial Orders of MO-010/19 and MO-011/19 on our External Website.

For information on the current wildfire situation across the province of Alberta visit wildfirestatus.alberta.ca.

Prohibited

• All open fires including campfires in campgrounds, back country and random camping areas and backyard fire pits.
• Charcoal briquettes, turkey fryers and tiki torches.
• Fireworks and exploding targets.
• The use of off-highway vehicles for recreational use on all public lands. 

Allowed

• Portable propane fire pits that are CSA approved or UL certified.
• Gas or propane stoves and barbecues that are CSA approved or UL certified and are designed for cooking or heating.
• Catalytic or infrared-style heaters.
• OHVs for industrial use, agricultural use, and traditional use by Indigenous peoples, as well as use on private lands. 

 

If you have health concerns related to Smoke, please check with Alberta Health Services or call 811 for 24/7 health advise from Alberta Health Link. For a smoke forecast map, visit Wildfire Smoke Forecasts for Western Canada.