A Fire Advisory remains in place for the High Level Forest Area. Use caution in the forested areas and report wildfires by calling 310-FIRE (3473).
HIGH LEVEL FOREST AREA UPDATE | JUNE 29, 2019 AT 7:00 P.M.
There are currently 6 active wildfires in the High Level Area. Of these fires, 3 are Out of Control (OC), 1 is Being Held (BH) and 2 are Under Control (UC). (For info regarding the Chuckegg Creek and the Jackpot Creek fires please see below for more info.) Click here for a map of all fire locations and their status within the High Level Forest Area.
Wildfires of note:
- Fire number, HWF091, is classified as Under Control (UC) and is located approximately 5 km southeast of the community of Fox Lake at 196 hectares in size. There are 25 firefighters, with 3 helicopters and heavy equipment working on this fire.
- Fire number, HWF088, is classified as Being Held (BH) and is located 10 km northwest of Hutch Lake. This fire is 216 hectares in size. Heavy equipment continues to establish a fireguard around the fire perimeter. There are 25 firefighters, 6 helicopters and heavy equipment working on this fire.
NOTE: The next update will be by 11:00 a.m. tomorrow, or if conditions warrant.
Firefighters, helicopters, airtankers and heavy equipment are positioned throughout the High Level Forest Area to respond to any new wildfire starts. Please report wildfires by calling 310-FIRE.
CHUCKEGG CREEK WILDFIRE UPDATE | JUNE 29, 2019 AT 7:00 P.M.
This afternoon the planned ignition in the vicinity of the Boyer River Cell Tower did not go ahead as the conditions were not conducive to complete a successful controlled burn.
Today, the weather aided the fire suppression efforts and decreased the fire behaviour compared to the last few days. There is recorded precipitation within the fire perimeter which ranged for 0.5mm to 2.5mm. The northern end of the wildfire is fully guarded and mop-up is complete. Firefighters continue to patrol the area. On the west side, the guard is completed and firefighters are continuing with mop-up south of Highway 58. In the south, firefighters have completed the majority of mop-up and will continue to patrol the area. Because of the hard work of the firefighters the north, west, and south is almost complete and resources will be reassigned to other areas of the wildfire. On the eastern side, dozer groups made progress building guard along the fire perimeter from the Peace River towards the Boyer River Cell Tower. Feller bunchers are working 24 hours a day to open a contingency guard south of Devil and Surette Lakes. Heavy equipment is also making progress on the dozer guard located on the west side of the Peace River, northwest of Moose Island. Over 20km of guard has been completed in the above mentioned areas. Firefighters continue to extinguish hotspots, and support the heavy equipment by establishing water delivery, laying hose and mopping-up 100 feet inwards. They are also continuing to apply water 100 feet inwards around the spot fire (from June 17th) located south of Surette Lake and just north of the Peace River.
The area of the Chuckegg Creek wildfire is now estimated at 331,167 ha, and the change is area is based on more accurate data.
Structure protection remains in place as a precautionary measure, in the Blue Hills and La Crete area. These structure protection units are being monitored.
- The fire remains 331,167 hectares in size.
- There are 1,033 firefighters and personnel, 45 helicopters and 206 pieces of heavy equipment working on this fire.
JACKPOT CREEK WILDFIRE UPDATE | JUNE 29, 2019 AT 7:00 P.M.
With the warmer weather settling in, crews have been able to make some good progress on hot spots in the Southeast and Southwest corners of the fire. The warm weather brought out some areas, through scanning, that crews have then been able to focus in on. Heavy equipment will be working with crews on the Northwest flank, separating piles of downed trees to aid the firefighters in suppressing hot spots beneath them.
Additional crews will continue reinforcing dozer guard along the East side of Highway 35. Firefighters have done some great work on the West side of Highway 35 but are still scanning and working on hot spots.
Weather forecasts for Sunday are calling for varying amounts of rain so crews are making the best of the warm weather today.
- The fire is 79,834 hectares in size.
- There are 249 firefighters and personnel, 22 helicopters and 5 pieces of heavy equipment working on this fire.
FIRE ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR THE HIGH LEVEL FOREST AREA
A Fire Advisory is in effect for the High Level Forest Area due to a high wildfire danger and wildfire activity within the area.
- Safe Campfires are currently allowed, but may be restricted in the coming days if weather conditions change.
- Current seasonal permits issued until October 31, 2019 are permitted.
- New permits will only be issued for smudges, burn barrels and light debris yard clean up.
To get a fire permit please call 780-926-5407 and leave a detailed message including your home address, burn location and what you plan to burn. A patrolman will contact you to arrange a site visit.
Visit albertafirebans.ca for more information or download the new Alberta Fire Bans mobile app.
PROVINCIAL SUMMARY (June 29)
There are currently 19 wildfires in the Forest Protection Area: 2 are Out of Control, 4 are Being Held, 9 are Under Control and 4 have been Turned Over to the responsible parties.
Since March 1, there have been 676 wildfires that have burned 804,786.53 hectares in the Forest Protection Area.
ALERTS AND EVACUATIONS | BE PREPARED, STAY INFORMED
Download the Alberta Emergency Alert App or visit their website by Clicking Here. You can also check with the County, the Town or your local community to see if new alerts or evacuation orders have been issued.
ROAD CLOSURE INFORMATION
To stay informed on all road closure info visit the Alberta Transportation website or download the mobile app.
SMOKE ISSUES
Smoke from wildfires in northern Alberta has caused poor air quality and reducing visibility at times. Winds will continue to shift bringing smoky conditions. For health related smoke issues, please visit Alberta Health Services.
PUBLIC SAFETY - WILDFIRE OPERATIONS
During an active wildfire, the highest priority is the safety of the public and wildfire personnel. Please refrain from entering areas of active wildfire suppression. If you encounter aircraft or helicopter bucketing operations on a water body please move your boat to shore.
The airspace around a wildfire is restricted via NOTAM in a radius of 9 kilometres to an altitude of 3,000 feet above ground level. It is illegal to operate any aircraft not associated with wildfire suppression within the restricted area, including drones. Do not fly drones or UAVs near or within the perimeter of an active wildfire. When a drone is near a wildfire it endangers firefighting personnel and important aerial firefighting operations will be grounded. Those caught in violation can be subject to an automatic court appearance and a fine of up to $100,000.
Matthew Anderson | Wildfire Information Officer | High Level Forest Area
1-866-FYI-FIRE
Rosalie MacAulay | Wildfire Information Officer | Chuckegg Creek Wildfire
Phone: 780-653-0151 ext. 1052
1-866-FYI-FIRE
RELATED INFORMATION
- Alberta Wildfire Status
- Alberta Fire Bans
- Air Quality Health Index
- Alberta Emergency Alerts
- 511 Road Reports
- Emergency Preparation