High Level Area Update

If you see smoke or flame in the forest and suspect it's a wildfire, call 310-FIRE (3473) to report it.

Firefighters are working hard to contain wildfires across the forest area. They're removing burning trees and clearing debris to prevent the spread of wildfire (July 7, 2024)

A fire restriction is in place for the High Level and Fort McMurray Forest Areas.

Under this restriction:

• Existing fire permits are restricted, suspended or cancelled and no new fire permits will be issued.
• Safe wood campfires within fire rings in campgrounds are allowed.

Prohibited on public lands, including backcountry and random camping areas:

• All outdoor wood fires.
• Fires fueled exclusively by charcoal briquettes.
• The use of fireworks and exploding targets.

Allowed in designated campgrounds on private and public land, designated day use areas and on privately owned land:

• Safe wood campfires.
• Backyard fire pits, charcoal briquette barbeques.
• Propane/ natural gas-powered appliances CSA approved or UL certified.

HIGH LEVEL FOREST AREA | WILDFIRE SITUATION 

The wildfire danger in the High Level Forest Area remains VERY HIGH. This means that high-intensity fire is expected and likely to spread to treetops. Wildfire behavior will challenge suppression efforts today.

There are currently 39 wildfires burning in the High Level Forest Area. Of these, 11 are out of control, 16 are being held, and 10 are classified as under control. Two of these wildfires are carry-over fires from the 2023 season. Additionally, there are two wildfires along borders: one shared with B.C. and one with the N.W.T. 

Since January 1, 2024, there have been 109 wildfires in the High Level Forest Area, burning a total of 32,264 ha.

You can view the location and statistics of these wildfires on our interactive map by following the active wildfire link. Visit our website to learn more about wildfire classifications.

HIGH LEVEL FOREST AREA | ACTIVE WILDFIRES OF INTEREST

WEATHER FORECAST Today, max temperatures of 31C and 25% relative humidity is expected across most of the forest area. Winds from the southwest 15km/h will possibly move wildfires towards the northeast. There's a small chance of precipitation in the forecast.

Tomorrow, max temperatures of 30C with 25% relative humidity, northwest winds 15km/h gusting to 35km/h are expected. Crossover conditions are possible in the next 24 hours. This means that the temperature could be higher then the relative humidity, creating perfect conditions for wildfires to increase in activity. 

HWF047 (Melvin River) is currently burning OUT OF CONTROL approximately 40 km north-northeast of the town of High Level and 25 km east of Highway 35. The wildfire is now estimated to be 1,375 ha in size. The wildfire does not currently pose a threat to any communities and its cause remains under investigation.

There are 139 firefighters and support staff, along with 13 helicopters, associated to this wildfire. An incident management team remains in command of its assigned personnel and resources. 

Today, fire crews will continue working on hot spots along the perimeter, working north (from the south) up the east and west sides. Firefighters and helicopters are continuing to make progress; however, possible crossover conditions (where temperatures exceed relative humidity) Sunday and into Monday may present challenges.

HWF100 is currently burning OUT OF CONTROL is now estimated to be 581 ha in size. The wildfire is located 21 km northeast of Rainbow Lake and 25 km west of Chateh. There are 35 firefighters, six helicopters and 12 pieces of heavy equipment actioning the wildfire today.

Heavy equipment successfully built a dozer guard up to the river. Firefighters can now safely work along the guard, working their way into the burn searching for and extinguishing hotspots with pumps and hose. 

The night vision helicopter moved into the area once the airtankers could no longer support. They were able to tank 20 drops until late in the evening but had to leave near midnight due to smoke impeding visibility. 

Very little activity was observed this morning however firefighters anticipate some increased wildfire behaviour later in the afternoon as temperatures rise and humidity lowers. This wildfire did not significantly grow and does not pose a threat to any community at this time.

WF102 is currently burning OUT OF CONTROL and estimated to be 879 ha in size. The wildfire is located 34 km southeast of Tall Cree South and 38 km east of Wadlin Lake. There are four firefighters and one helicopter assigned to the wildfire. 

SEMO WILDFIRE COMPLEX | HWF053, HWF061, HWF081, HWF083

The Semo Wildfire Complex is located north of John D'Or Prairie, Garden River and Fox Lake. It includes the Caribou Mountains P.P, between the Ponton and the Wentzel River. This wildfire is currently being overseen by an incident management team. Additional resources have been requested and will be arriving in the coming days.

Today, the weather forecast is calling for temperatures of 25C with a relative humidity of 35% with winds out of the southwest at 15 km/h with gusts reaching a potential 30 km/h in the afternoon. Smoke from the fires in British Columbia will cover parts of the complex in the early afternoon and could lessen fire behaviour.

HWF053 is currently burning OUT OF CONTROL approximately 50 km northeast of John D'or Prairie, 36 km northwest of Garden River and 30 north of Fox Lake. It's estimated to be 525 ha in size. There is no threat to any communities at this time; the wildfire remains under investigation.

HWF061 is currently burning OUT OF CONTROL 38 km northeast of Jon D'or, 29 km north of Fox Lake and 35 km northwest of Garden River. At this time the fire does not pose a threat to any community. The wildfire is now estimated to be 12,017 ha in size and caused by lightning.

Today, heavy equipment operators will travel towards the southwest side of the fire to gain better access. Helicopters will continue to bucket along the north side of the fire as they work to secure the west side and down towards the south. Firefighters will begin actioning the fire when safe zones are completed and are ready to access. Airtankers will be used when they can be effective to aid in wildfire operations.

HWF081 is OUT OF CONTROL at 1,853 ha. There are safe access points for crews to action this wildfire and they will continue to work on the south and west perimeter and work inwards. Airtankers successfully dropped retardant on the fire perimeter to prevent spread. Crews are burning off unburnt fuel to tie the fire into the streams and lakes in the area to create a natural fire break.  

HWF083 is OUT OF CONTROL at 5,280 ha and grew significantly yesterday under clear and dry conditions. The spread was observed to move east and slightly south as it searched for fuel in between the many streams and lakes in the area.

All of these wildfires are within the Caribou Mountain Wildland P.P. and have been determined to be caused by lightning. These wildfires are located approximately 55 km north of John D'Or Prairie.

There are 87 firefighters and support staff, eight helicopters and 18 pieces of heavy equipment assigned to the Semo Complex. Additional resources are on the way to support firefighting activities.

Airtanker retardant lines are established on parts of HWF081 (July 6, 2024).

AMBER RIVER COMPLEX | HWF030, HWF072, HWF075, HWF076, HWF089, HWF101

An incident management team is in command of the personnel and resources assigned to the Amber River Complex and its six wildfires. There are currently 110 firefighters and seven helicopters working on the wildfires within the Amber Complex.

Crossover conditions (where temperatures exceed relative humidity) are expected today and into Monday, which will likely increase fire activity.

HWF072 is burning OUT OF CONTROL and now estimated to be 2,700 ha in size. This wildfire is approximately 78 km northwest of Chateh and about 60 km west of Zama City. The wildfire does not currently pose a threat to any communities and its cause is under investigation.

Increased perimeter growth due to high fire activity was observed yesterday with additional growth expected in the coming days.

Airtankers were used yesterday and, along with heli-bucketing, are planned for use again today. These aerial fire suppression activities, and those of firefighters on the ground, will be augmented by dozers (and support vehicles) once this heavy equipment arrives on scene over the next 24-36 hours.

HWF030 is currently now UNDER CONTROL. This wildfire is located approximately 8.5 km southwest of Zama City and estimated to be 3,200 ha. This wildfire does not currently pose a threat to any communities and its cause remains under investigation.

To view these and other wildfires in the province, view our interactive map by following the active wildfire link. 

HTZ001 (Cameron Hills) 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.

This recent burn within the High Level Forest Area covers an estimated 30,520 hectares ha. 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.

This wildfire may cause highway closures, visit Alberta 511 or download the app for up-to-date information. 

FireSmart is a national program that helps Canadians increase their resilience to wildfire. Whether you are a homeowner, resident, business, local government, or Indigenous community, you can take small steps with lasting impacts.

Vegetation management, broadly speaking, is the modification of wildland fuels (vegetation that can contribute to wildfire is known simply as ‘fuel’) for the purpose of mitigating the potential intensities and impact of wildfire. Intuitively vegetation management as a strategy for reducing wildfire hazard makes a lot of sense: wildfire requires fuel, in the form of vegetation, to burn; if we can change the fuel, we can change the wildfires behaviour. For suggestions on landscaping tips, you can view the FireSmart Guide to Landscaping. 

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