Hot and dry conditions continue in the High Level Forest Area. Please use caution in the forested areas as fires start and spread quickly. To report a wildfire call 310-FIRE (3473).
FIRE RESTRICTION IN EFFECT | AS OF JUNE 22, 2023
A fire restriction is in effect for the High Level, Peace River and Fort McMurray Forest Areas, as well as the northern part of the Grande Prairie Forest Area.
Under this restriction:
- Existing fire permits are suspended, and cancelled and no new fire permits will be issued.
- Safe wood campfires within fire rings in campgrounds are allowed.
Prohibited:
- All outdoor wood fires are banned on public lands, including backcountry and random camping areas.
- The use of fireworks and exploding targets is also prohibited.
Allowed:
- Safe wood campfires on private lands and in provincial campgrounds.
- Backyard fire pits, charcoal briquette barbeques.
- Propane/ natural gas-powered appliances.
- Indoor wood fires contained within a device with a chimney and spark arrestor.
- Cooking, warming and lighting devices – all devices must be CSA approved and used as per manufacturer’s standards.
Stay away from active wildfire areas | For your safety and to ensure firefighters can do their job safely, please stay away from active wildfire areas. Your cooperation is essential.
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.
Reporting wildfires | Please do not report smoke or flame from within an active wildfire area. Firefighters are diverted from essential tasks to respond to fires reported by the public. You may see smoke or flame within the existing boundary of a wildfire, this is normal.
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, and take necessary precautions if you have smoke-related health 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 Alberta firefighters the space they need to do their jobs safely. *Transport Canada
WEATHER |
Hot and dry conditions persist with no significant rainfall in the forecast.
The forecast is as follows, a temperature of 27 degrees, with a relative humidity of 35 percent with winds north 15-20 km/h gusting up to 35 km/h.
There is a special air quality statement for High Level. For more information please visit weather.gc.ca
HIGH LEVEL FOREST AREA | WILDFIRE SITUATION | JULY 13, 2023 AS OF 1:30 PM
There are 30 wildfires in the High Level Forest Area. Of these fires, eight are classified as out of control (OC), 14 are being held (BH) and eight are under control (UC). To see a map of the wildfires in the High Level Forest Area and across the province please click here.
Wildfires of interest;
HWF124 | This fire is located approximately 35 km east of Meander River. The fire is classified as being held (BH) at 160 hectares. Today, 24 firefighters and two helicopters working on this fire. Crews will continue to work on building containment lines and extinguishing hotspots. There is no risk to any community at this time.
HWF102 | This is located approximately 20 km north of Beaver Ranch. The wildfire is classified as out of control (OC) at 235 hectares. There was some growth yesterday and airtankers supported crews. There are 12 firefighters and one helicopter will work on the wildfire. There is no immediate risk to communities at this time.
THE OWL FIRE COMPLEX |HWF072, HWF083, HWF087, HWF092 | JULY 13, 2023 AS OF 1:30 PM
HWF072 | This fire was detected June 23, 2023. This fire is classified as out of control (OC) and is 21,716 hectares. The fire is approximately 14 km southwest of the South Tall Cree boundary at highway 88. Due to the close proximity of this fire to the community, South Tall Cree has issued an evacuation alert. Mackenzie County has evacuated the Wadlin Lake campground and closed the road.
Work continues north of the Wadlin Campground to limit spread by building containment lines and extinguishing hotspots through the use of ground crews and bucketing operations. Heavy equipment is establishing dozer guard on the far east side and will work north.
There are hotspots along the southwest side of the fire but the fire was mostly active on along the west boundary yesterday with minimal fire activity as it moves away from the community of South Tall Cree.
HWF087 | This fire is classified as out of control (OC) and is 6,122 hectares. This fire is located approximately 3 km south of Harper Creek. There most fire activity is concentrated on the southwest flank with the moving further west. No communities are at risk at this time. Firefighters are monitoring this fire.
HWF083 | This fire is classified as out of control (OC) and is 7,519 hectares. This fire is located approximately 34 km southeast of the South Tall Cree boundary at the Wabasca River. Any of the reported growth is on the whole west flank of this fire. No communities are at risk at this time. Firefighters are monitoring this fire.
Resources
There are 91 firefighters, six helicopters and heavy equipment working on this fire. Airtankers are available as needed.
The Incident Management Team (IMT) continues to work closely with community members on understanding the local landscape and getting access to the fire ground. Alberta Wildfire is communicating with council and county partners as the fire situation changes.
Weather
The forecast is as follows, a temperature of 24 degrees with north winds at 10 km/h occasionally gusting to 15 km/h.
THE BEACH ROAD FIRE | HWF064 | JULY 13, 2023 AS OF 1:30 PM
This fire was detected June 9, 2023. This fire is classified as being held (BH) with a last recorded size of 4,553 hectares. Being held means given current weather conditions and resources, the wildfire is not anticipated to grow past predetermined boundaries. The fire is located approximately 10 km northwest of Zama City. Crews, aircraft and heavy equipment continue to make progress on the containment lines to prevent spread towards the community of Zama City.
There has been no significant growth reported and progress made by crews and heavy equipment in creating containment lines. There are 118 wildland firefighters, six helicopters, support staff and heavy equipment working on this fire.
Australian firefighters working the line on the Basset Complex, July 12, 2023.
THE BASSET COMPLEX | HWF058, PWF067, PWF079 | JULY 13, 2023 AS OF 1:30 PM
An Incident Management Team (IMT) is managing fire HWF058 within the High Level Forest Area as well as PWF067 and PWF079 within the Peace River Forest Area.
HWF058 | This wildfire is located about 12 km northwest of the of Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement boundary marker, where the Haig River meets the Chinchaga River. It is classified as out of control (OC) at 36,836 hectares.
Minimal fire activity was observed on this wildfire yesterday. Today, firefighters will continue to work on the southeast flank of the fire to prevent spread and extinguish hot spots near the dozer guard. They are assisted by helicopters who are bucketing in the area. Heavy equipment continues to strengthen the containment lines.
The east side of the fire that crossed over to the east side of the Chinchaga River is about 15 km north of where the Haig River meets the Chinchaga River. The area is sealed in with dozer guard and containment lines.
PWF067 | This wildfire is located 9 kilometers west of highway 35 and 10 km south of the Keg River. It is classified as out of control (OC) at 4,351 hectares.
Minimal fire activity was observed on this wildfire yesterday. Heavy equipment continues to build a dozer guard on the north and west flanks of the wildfire.
PWF079 | This wildfire is classified as under control (UC) at three hectares. Firefighters continue to monitor this wildfire for activity.
Resources
There are 257 firefighters and support staff working on this complex with the support of 14 helicopters and heavy equipment. Structural protection crews have established protection on structures along the Chinchaga River and will be assessing other areas that could be at risk.
The Incident Management Team (IMT) continues to work closely with community members to understand the local landscape. Alberta Wildfire is communicating with council and county partners as the wildfire situation evolves.
Weather
The forecast is as follows, a temperature of 27 degrees with winds north-northwest 10 to 15 km/h.
THE LONG LAKE FIRE | HWF036 | JULY 13, 2023 AS OF 1:30 PM
HWF036 | This wildfire is classified as being held (BH) at 173,470 hectares. Being held means that given current weather conditions and resources, the wildfire is not anticipated to grow past predetermined boundaries.
Firefighters are focusing on extinguishing hot spots outside of the wildfire perimeter on the south of Baseline Road. Heavy equipment is working on strengthening the containment lines on the south and east flanks of the fire.
The northeast guard protecting the community of Chateh continues to hold with limited fire activity along that flank. Vegetation inside the fire perimeter may flare up and firefighters continue to work on hot spots in the interior as they arise.
There are 203 firefighters, support staff and contractors working on this wildfire, with the support of seven helicopters and heavy equipment.
Residents are reminded not to enter the fire area for their own safety and to give firefighters, helicopters and heavy equipment space to work.
THE PASKWA FIRE (HWF030) | JULY 13, 2023 AS OF 1:30 PM
HWF030 | The Paskwa fire was detected on May 2, 2023. It extends along the south side of the Peace River from the community of Fox Lake into Wood Buffalo National Park and is approximately 8 km south of the community of Garden River. The wildfire is 96,582 hectares in size and is classified as being held (BH). Being held means given current weather conditions and resources, the wildfire is not anticipated to grow past predetermined boundaries.
Crews continue their work in Fox Lake working house to house to extinguish 250 feet around each structure and 250 feet along roadways. There are areas within the community where the fire is burning deep in peat moss. These areas will continue to be worked on by firefighters and heavy equipment.
Smoky conditions will continue in the community as crews pile and burn off debris. This is a controlled and monitored practice to get rid of unwanted downed trees. These piles are burning on bare mineral soil and are located away from any structures in town.
There are 10 firefighters, two helicopters, and heavy equipment
Wood Buffalo National Park | Davidson Lake Complex (Wildfires 8, 9, 11, 13, 14)
For information regarding fires burning within the Wood Buffalo National Park, please click here.
DO NOT FLY DRONES NEAR WILDFIRES!
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 Alberta firefighters the space they need to do their jobs safely. *Transport Canada
WILDFIRE INFORMATION
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.
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.
WILDFIRE LINKS AND TOOLS
Volunteers, equipment owners/operators or firefighters looking to assist with these wildfires or any of the wildfires within the province can contact EmergencySupportOffers@gov.ab.ca.
There are multiple EVACUATION ORDERS & ALERTS in the Province. Please visit Alberta Emergency Alerts or your community webpage for more information.
For road closure information, please visit: 511.alberta.ca
Wildfire smoke is a tool used for the location of smoke firesmoke.ca
To see all the wildfires burning in Alberta click here.
WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS | Learn how you can prepare yourself for a wildfire by clicking here.
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Victoria Ostendorf
Wildfire Information Officer
High level Forest Area
Cell: 780-841-9387
Email: victoria.ostendorf@gov.ab.ca