WINTER BURNING - SAFE BURNING PRACTICES ARE ALWAYS IN SEASON
From November 1st to February 28th fire permits are not required for burning in the Forest Protection Area. Even though a fire permit is not required, you are still responsible for any fires you ignite outside of the wildfire season.
Alberta Wildfire is urging everyone to use caution when burning this winter as holdover fires are likely to occur. With the lack of rain in the late summer and fall, the conditions in the ground are extremely dry. This means a fire will dig in and burn deep in the ground, under the snow all winter long. Under the right conditions, these fires can re-emerge in the spring as wildfires.
Take the time to properly prepare your burn site. Know the requirements needed to be successful during your burn and how to properly extinguish your site.
Before You Burn
- Winter burns should be conducted in areas with sufficient snow cover of more than 15 centimetres and burns must be monitored the entire time.
- Ensure smoke warning signs are in place before burning within half a mile (800 m) from a roadway. For more information on smoke management and to acquire signs, contact your local municipality. If you are outside of a municipality, contact Alberta Transportation.
While burning:
- Have someone monitoring the burn the entire time – if it escapes, immediately report it to 310-FIRE.
- Only burn what you can control with the equipment and people you have available, and adjust your burning according to weather conditions.
- Build it right. Brush piles or debris windrows should be free of soil, built to a maximum height of 3 metres, and with a fireguard or cleared land around it to stop the spread of fire.
After you burn:
- Spread remaining material within the pile and soak with water as required.
- Check the area and ensure both heat and smoke are no longer being produced by the pile – it should be cool to the touch.
- Check your burn site multiple times in the following weeks to ensure it has not reignited.
Pictured Above is a hotspot from fire HWF030 that is still burning in the east field, east of Fox Lake. Alberta Wildfire crews and equipment will be working this area over the next few weeks.
HIGH LEVEL FOREST AREA | WILDFIRE SITUATION | JANUARY 12, 2024
There are 20 wildfires in the High Level Forest Area. Of these fires, 11 are classified as being held (BH) and 9 are under control (UC). To see a map of the wildfires in the High Level Forest Area and across the province please click here. As there are many fires still on the landscape firefighters and staff have been observing fire behaviour and monitoring hotspots during the winter months.
In the Province of Alberta, Alberta Wildfire has responded to 1,097 wildfires in the Forest Protection Area. These wildfires burned over 2,211,959 hectares. That’s near the five-year average for total number of wildfires 1,114, but above the average for area burned, which is 206,983 hectares.
PASKWA FIRE | HWF030
Alberta Wildfire crews and heavy equipment are working to extinguish hotspots in the east field. In the south field, mulchers are working to eliminate the debris piles that were left in the area from the 2023 season. This will reduce the hazard in this area.
Please use caution in these areas while crews are working over the next two weeks. More updates to follow as crews make progress.
HWF058 | This wildfire is classified as being held with a last recorded size of 234,061 hectares. Being held means that given current weather conditions and resources, the wildfire is not anticipated to grow past expected boundaries.
HWF036 | This wildfire is classified as being held (BH) at 203,022 hectares. Being held means that given current weather conditions and resources, the wildfire is not anticipated to grow past expected boundaries.
FIRESMART PROJECT
Crews will be working on a FireSmart Project in the new year. This project is taking place north of the Hutch Lake cabins. Crews and equipment will be working on a five hectare area. FireSmart projects help protect communities and homes from the threat of a potential wildfire. When crews start the project there will be signage posted in the area.
If you have any questions please contact Victoria Ostendorf, Wildfire Information Officer, at 780-841-9387.
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, please check albertafirebans.ca to determine whether there are any fire advisories, fire restrictions or fire bans in effect for your destination.
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