The wildfire danger in the High Level Forest Area is HIGH.
The High Level Forest Area remains under a FIRE RESTRICTION (see details below).
If you see smoke or flame and suspect it's a wildfire, please call 310-FIRE (3473).
The forest area may experience heavy smoke over communities at times. Contact 811 for smoke-related health concerns.
This update is best viewed on a web browser or the AB Wildfire Status App | View previous High Level Forest Area Updates. Bold indicates new or important information.
*The next update will be available tomorrow evening, unless conditions change.
Flags at the High Level Forest Area Fire Centre remain at half-mast in respect and remembrance of Morgan Kitchen, our firefighter colleague who lost his life Aug. 3 in the Jasper area (Aug. 15, 2024).
HIGH LEVEL FOREST AREA | WILDFIRE SITUATION
There are currently 21 wildfires burning in the High Level Forest Area. Of these, three are out of control, 12 are being held, and six are classified as under control. There is also one wildfire along the Alberta-N.W.T. border.
Since January 1, 2024, there have been 168 wildfires in the High Level Forest Area, burning a total of 323,750 hectares (ha).
NASA FIRMS Fire Information website is a great resource to give an approximate location of hotspots in an area, but cannot always be used to determine specifically where a wildfire is burning. The heat from smoke columns, reflections from water and other heat signatures will appear on the map. It's important to note that the data is based on a mathematical estimate (interpolation) and can often make a wildfire appear larger than it actually is.
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.
WEATHER FORECAST: The temperature is forecast to reach 24C on Saturday with a relative humidity of 30 per cent. Winds are expected from the south at 10-15 km/h. Little-to-no precipitation is forecast.
Aerial view of HWF136 depicts minimal smoke on the northwest perimeter. (August 16, 2024)
HIGH LEVEL FOREST AREA | ACTIVE WILDFIRES OF INTEREST
HCX001 – Semo Complex (HWF053, HWF061, HWF081, HWF083, HWF136, HWF141)
The Semo Wildfire Complex is located north of John D'Or Prairie and Fox Lake and west of Garden River. A few of the wildfires in this complex are located within Caribou Mountains Provincial Park.
There are currently 596 firefighters and support personnel, 24 helicopters and 130 pieces of heavy equipment and water trucks currently working on the Semo Wildfire Complex.
HWF061 is a lightning-caused wildfire currently burning OUT OF CONTROL and was last estimated to be 106,709 hectares (ha). This wildfire is approximately 8.8 km northeast of the community boundary line of John D'Or Prairie, approximately 10.7 km north of the community boundary line of Fox Lake, and an estimated 1.7 km north of Highway 58.
HWF136 is currently burning OUT OF CONTROL at approximately 6,236 ha in size. This wildfire is located adjacent to Highway 58. It remains north of Highway 58 and is an estimated 13 km northwest of Garden River.
HWF053 is classified as BEING HELD. This wildfire is located north of HWF061 and is estimated to be 709 ha in size. Being held means that this fire is not expected to grow beyond established boundaries under the current conditions.
Other fires on this complex are within or nearby Caribou Mountain Wildland Provincial Park. Most of these wildfires have been determined to be caused by lightning, but the other wildfires remain under investigation. These fires will be monitored by fire personnel, with aircraft and further support as required. These wildfires include: HWF141, which is classified as BEING HELD north of HWF061 and east of HWF081, covering approximately 2,535 ha; HWF081, which is BEING HELD and is 50,461 ha; and HWF083, which is BEING HELD at 33,974 ha.
Fire Operations
Firefighters, helicopters and heavy equipment continue to work along the southern perimeter of HWF061 to extinguish hotspots and reduce spread. There is still heat over the southern perimeter of the guard but crews are working hard to contain these small excursions with guard and extinguish them. Heavy equipment is also working on the west side moving to the south as operators construct line. The north side of HWF061 is seeing some activity which we continue to monitor.
Construction of the guard on the northeast perimeter of HWF136 fire is continuing as equipment travels west to build containment lines. There is minimal activity on HWF136 but crews and heavy equipment are working to tie in small excursions with natural fuel breaks on the northwest corner. Crews are working to extinguish a small hotspot located near the excursion on the southern edge of HWF136 that extends south to highway 58. They will move to other priority areas when they're finished.
In the communities, the Structure Protection Unit (SPU) continue their work to maintain and test systems as well as on Margaret Lake and Pitchimi Lake as a precaution.
Weather Forecast
Again, there was good overnight recovery with cooler temperatures. There was minimal rain on the fire in the last few days but cooler temps will allow firefighters to make good progress on the complex. At this time no major runs have been reported on the Semo Complex and the fire remains static due to cooler temperatures and suppression efforts.
Tomorrow, the temperature is forecasted to be 16C with the relative humidity around 60%. Winds are expected to be blowing out of the southeast at approximately 10-15km/h with isolated gusts up to 30km/h.
Contained fireline: Containment of a wildfire shows the percent of fireline contained or being held with a minimum 10ft secured perimeter. This requires additional support from crews through the use of mechanical, hose line, or natural barriers to maintain perimeter.
Controlled fireline: The completion of a control line around a wildfire and all hot spots that are immediate threats to the control line within a minimum 100ft secured perimeter are expected to hold under the foreseeable conditions.
View the full public map of the Semo wildfire complex.
EVACUATION ALERTS AND ORDERS
Evacuation orders for Little Red River Cree Nation (LRRCN) communities have been lifted and re-entry for community members and residents of John D’Or Prairie, Fox Lake and Garden River started August 5th.
See updates on LRRCN's Facebook page or their website.
At this time, structures on Margaret Lake are not affected by the Semo Wildfire Complex, and there is no fire activity in the area. The Structure Protection Unit (SPU) still has their equipment on LRRCN infrastructure as a precaution.
OTHER ACTIVE WILDFIRES IN THE HIGH LEVEL FOREST AREA
HWF072, which is burning OUT OF CONTROL, is located 45 km west of Zama City and 60 km northwest of Chateh. This fire is now estimated to be 32,710 ha in size. Visibility improved allowing air and ground operations on HWF072.
There are approximately 56 firefighting personnel, 11 helicopters and two dozer groups (10 pieces) of heavy equipment assigned to HWF072.
Heli-bucketing and heavy equipment operators continue working to enhance containment lines around the perimeter, while firefighters continue to work on hotspots. The cause of HWF072 has been determined to be lightning.
HWF092, which is BEING HELD, is located north of the Town of High Level. This fire is estimated to be 49.40 ha in size. There are approximately 24 firefighters assigned to HWF092.
HTZ001 (bordering on the N.W.T. to the north), which included previous areas of concern to the NE and SE of Bistcho Lake, is classified as BEING HELD and is being monitored closely. Please see NWT Wildfire Update Map and the South Slave SS009-24 Update for more information on the status of this and other fires on the N.W.T. side of the border.
*None of the wildfires listed in the above section currently threaten any communities. To view these and other wildfires in the province, view our interactive map by following the active wildfire link.
PROVINCIAL WILDFIRE SITUATION (as of 10 a.m., Aug. 16)
The fire danger is mainly low to moderate for the western boreal region and along the Rocky Mountains. It is high to very high in the eastern boreal region and high to extreme in the agricultural zone.
Since January 1, 2024 in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta, there have been 1091 wildfires burning a total of 659,515 hectares (ha).
Last year, on this date, there were 974 wildfires that burnt a total of 2,204,511 ha. In the past five years on this date, an average of 877 wildfires had burnt an average of 633,752 ha.
FIRE RESTRICTION IN EFFECT
A fire restriction is in place for the High Level Forest Area.
Under this restriction, existing fire permits are restricted, suspended or cancelled and no new fire permits will be issued.
Prohibited:
- Wood campfires on public land
- Fireworks and exploding targets
Allowed:
- Safe wood campfires in a designated campground, on private land and in backyard fire pits
- Charcoal briquette barbeques
- Propane/natural gas powered appliances
- Open flame oil devices
- Indoor wood fires
If you see a wildfire, report it immediately by calling 310-FIRE.
The fire restriction will remain in effect until conditions improve.
Visit Alberta Fire Bans for more information.
DANGEROUS TREES | Be extra cautious near burnt areas and avoid forested areas that have been recently affected by wildfire. Hazards remain from deep ash pits, burning peat and falling trees or branches, especially if windy.
SMOKE | Lingering smoke may still be visible in some areas and in affected communities. Smoke inversions can trap air near the ground causing dangerous driving conditions and poor air quality. Please use extra caution when driving in smoky conditions. To see forecasted smoke, please visit FireSmoke.ca. If you have smoke related health concerns, please visit or contact Alberta 811.
ALBERTA HEALTH WILDFIRE RESOURCES | You can visit Alberta Health Services for information on how you or your loved ones can access resources related to wildfire impacts and smoke concerns.
DRONES | The use of recreational drones over wildfires in Alberta is dangerous, illegal and could result in a fine of up to $15,000* for putting aircraft and people at risk. Please give firefighters the space they need to do their jobs safely. *Transport Canada.
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 is the modification of wildland fuels for the purpose of mitigating the potential intensities and impact of wildfire. 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 wildfire's 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
- Visit firesmoke.ca to view smoke drifts in the area
- Call 811 for smoke related health concerns
- For evacuation information please visit https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-emergency-alert.aspx
- Download the Alberta Wildfire app today and get access to accurate, real-time information on wildfires in your area. You can also find information on fire advisories, restrictions and bans across the province and much more all on your mobile device. Available for Apple and Android.
- Before heading out, check the fire bans website or download the app to determine if there are any fire advisories, fire restrictions or fire bans in effect for your destination.
- Subscribe to the High Level Forest Area Update to receive an email when new information is posted. Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
- Missed an issue of the High Level Forest area Wildfire Update? You can find previous updates on our website.
- For evacuation orders and alerts in the Province visit Alberta Emergency Alerts or your community webpage for more information.
- For road closure information, visit Alberta 511 or download the app.
- To see all the wildfires burning in Alberta click here.
- Learn how you can prepare yourself for a wildfire with some tips and tricks on wildfire preparedness
