Please use caution when spending time in forested areas. If you see smoke or flame in the forest and suspect it's a wildfire, call 310-FIRE (3473).

There is currently no fire advisory in the High Level Forest Area.

HIGH LEVEL FOREST AREA WILDFIRE SITUATION

Paskwa wildfire now extinguished

After extensive work over the winter and into the spring, including numerous infrared scans to identify hot spots — along with recent precipitation received — we are confident in changing the status of the Paskwa wildfire to extinguished (EX), effective June 10. This fire was referred to as HWF030 on the Alberta Wildfire app and webpage.

The Paskwa wildfire was a 2023 carry-over fire, which burned in the vicinity of several Little Red River Cree Nation communities, including Fox Lake, and caused significant damage to homes, infrastructure and the environment last year — impacting the lives of many in the area.

Our success in extinguishing the Paskwa wildfire is a result of a close working relationship and communication between Alberta Wildfire and the Little Red River Cree Nation. The support and cooperation of the nation chief and council, along with community members, have been very much appreciated.

Alberta Wildfire will continue to work closely with the Little Red River Cree Nation and its leaders — and surrounding communities within the High Level Forest Area and beyond — to enhance awareness and prevention efforts, thereby reducing the likelihood of significant wildfires, such as the Paskwa fire, impacting lives and livelihoods in the future. 

General situation

There are currently seven fires burning in the High Level Forest Area — all are classified as under control. Three of these wildfires are carry-over fires from the 2023 season. Additionally, there are three wildfires along borders: two shared with B.C. and one with the N.W.T. (HTZ001, see below).

Since January 1, 2024, there have been 41 wildfires in the High Level Forest Area, burning a total of 536 hectares (ha). These numbers do not include the three border fires noted above.

CLASSIFICATIONS | Learn more about wildfire classifications.

LOCATIONS | View this wildfire on our interactive map by following the active wildfire link.

PROVINCIAL WILDFIRE SITUATION

The fire danger is low across most of the boreal, with pockets of moderate to high in the west and south boreal regions. It ranges from moderate to extreme along the Rocky Mountains and is extreme in the agricultural zone.

Since January 1, 2024 in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta, there have been 423 wildfires burning a total of approximately 27,986 hectares (ha). 

Last year, on this date, there were 634 wildfires that had burnt a total of 1,724,275 ha across the province. Over the past five years on this date, an average of 495 wildfires had burnt an average of 496,690 ha

Morale remains high among the remaining firefighters with Alberta Wildfire (Forestry and Parks) assigned to the Cameron Hills wildfire (HTZ001), who continue to monitor and extinguish hot spots in the area.

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ACTIVE WILDFIRES OF INTEREST

HTZ001 (Cameron Hills wildfire) is a mutual aid wildfire that originated in the border zone with the Northwest Territories (N.W.T.) in 2023. The Alberta portion of this fire, south of the border, is now classified as BEING HELD, which means that the wildfire is not expected to grow past its current boundaries — based on the resources available and weather forecasts.  

On the Alberta side, this wildfire (HTZ001) is located near Indian Cabins, just south of the N.W.T. border.  This recent burn within the High Level Forest Area covers an estimated 30,526 hectares (ha). 

Given our success in managing this wildfire to date, along with ongoing favourable weather conditions (relatively cool and moist), the assigned Alberta Wildfire incident management team (IMT), which had been in place for about a month, has departed — leaving a reduced number of firefighters, support staff and aircraft on scene (along with some heavy equipment), as we continue to monitor this wildfire, extinguishing any hot spots found along the perimeters. 

The aim of protecting critical infrastructure along Highway 35, including utilities and Indian Cabins, remains, and we will continue to work closely with our industry partners and N.W.T. counterparts to contain and control this wildfire (HTZ001). 

Please see NWT Wildfire Update Map and the South Slave SS009-24 Update for more information on their activities and wildfire status in the N.W.T. area.

There remains the possibility of Highway 35 and surrounding roads being impacted. We urge all motorists to check Alberta 511 before travelling in the area — allowing extra time in case of road closures. For up-to-date information on highway closures, visit Alberta 511 or download the app. 

Alberta firefighters' top priority is suppressing wildfires in the province, but sometimes duty calls in other ways. These firefighters, who were working on perimeter hot spots in early June, were able to assist motorists who needed help changing a flat tire to continue their travels along Highway 35.

HWF021 is classified as UNDER CONTROL, estimated to be 378 ha in size and part of MCX001 wildfire complex with the Fort McMurray Forest Area. There are no threats to infrastructure or communities at this time. This wildfire is being monitored by firefighters for activity and actioned when needed.

CARRY OVER WILDFIRES | There are six carry-over wildfires from the 2023 wildfire season. These fires are classified as under control (UC). High-level infrared scanning is being conducted by aircraft to determine if there are any other active spots in the forest area. The wildfires remaining on the landscape are being monitored for fire activity, and resources are being deployed to extinguish hotspots as they are discovered.

FireSmart is more than a collection of best-practices, programs, resources, and tools. FireSmart is a way of living with and managing the risk of wildfire. It is a shared responsibility between government, community leaders, neighbourhoods, and residents. Together, we can build a wildfire resilient Alberta. A FireSmart Alberta.

Your actions today can minimize wildfire damage to your home and property tomorrow. Flames aren’t the only threat. An estimated 90% of homes damaged or destroyed by wildfire are ignited by embers.  By taking proactive FireSmart measures around your house and yard, you can increase your properties’ resistance to wildfire.

To learn more on how you can protect your home, visit FireSmart Alberta. For farm or acreages, you can download the Farm and Acreage FireSmart magazine.

WILDFIRE INFORMATION