Grande Prairie Area Update

Grande Prairie Forest Area Wildfire danger update May 24, 2019

Posted on Fri, May 24, 2019

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The wildfire danger for the Grande Prairie Forest Area is High. Weekend weather forecast is calling for a return of hot, dry and windy conditions. As such, the fire ban and off-highway vehicle restriction will remain in effect for the Grande Prairie Forest Area.

In the past 24 hours, the Grande Prairie Forest Area has had four wildfire starts. Since wildfire season began March 1, 2019, we have recorded 25 wildfires with a total of six hectares burned. Currently, crews are working to extinguish the wildfires sparked by lightning yesterday. All the fires are currently under control.
 
At this time of year, lightning fires are common. In order to be prepared for new wildfires, crews have been stationed strategically throughout the area to quickly and efficiently fight fires. We are also searching for new fires by aerial patrol and lookout personnel will constantly watch from their tower sites for new fires.

Alberta Wildfire Operations

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A Fire Ban and an Off-Highway Vehicle Restriction Remains 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. 

Get the most up to date information regarding fire bans at www.albertafirebans.ca 

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. 

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Smoke may be drifting into the area from out of control wildfires burning north of Grande Prairie. Anyone with health concerns should 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.

Thank you for doing your part to prevent wildfire, if you spot a wildfire call 310-FIRE.

 

ALBERTA WILDFIRE INFORMATION

Get the most up-to-date wildfire information for the entire province, download the free Alberta Wildfire Android or Apple products.  

 
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Kelly Burke | Wildfire Information Officer
Mobile: (780) 832 7235
kelly.burke@gov.ab.ca

 

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