The wildfire danger is very high in the High Level Forest Area. With the return of hot and windy conditions new wildfire starts have the potential to spread quickly. Please do your part and respect the Fire Ban and OHV Restriction. Help firefighters respond to new wildfires by calling 310-FIRE(3473).
Under this fire ban:
•All existing Fire Permits are suspended (or cancelled)
•No new Fire Permits will be issued
Prohibited:
•All outdoor wood fires are banned, including wood campfires on public lands, wood campfires on private land and provincial campgrounds
•Backyard firepits
•BBQ charcoal briquettes
•The use of fireworks and exploding targets
•The recreational use of off-highway vehicles (OHV) on public lands, including designated OHV trails
Allowed:
•Propane/natural gas-powered appliances
•Open flame oil devices (e.g., turkey deep fryers, tiki torches)
•Indoor wood fires contained within a device with a chimney and spark arrestor
•All appliances must be CSA approved and used per manufacturer’s standards
•Indigenous people when using an OHV for traditional purposes. Traditional purposes are hunting, fishing, and trapping – including the use of an OHV to travel to the location(s) for these purposes.
•Essential industry-related activities requiring the use of OHVs.
•Off-highway vehicle use is still permitted on private lands.
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.
Danger 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
There are 10 wildfires in the High Level Forest Area. Of these fires, six are classified as out of control (OC), one is being held (BH) and three are under control (UC). Firefighters responded to one new wildfire today, fire HWF066. Please see the updates below regarding the Paskwa fire and the Long Lake Complex. To see a map of the wildfires in the High Level Forest Area and across the province please click here.
Wildfires of interest;
HWF066 | This fire is located approximately 53 km southeast of South Tall Cree where the Wabasca River meets highway 88. This fire is classified as Out of Control (OC) at 20 hectares. There are 9 firefighters, 1 helicopter and airtankers are available as needed.
HWF065 | This fire is located approximately 42 km southeast of South Tall Cree boundary, where the Wabasca River meets highway 88. This fire is classified as out of control (OC) at 616 hectares. Firefighters are patrolling and monitoring this fire.
HWF064 | This fire is located approximately 10 km northwest of the community of Zama City. This fire is classified as out of control (OC) with a last recorded size of 4,650 hectares. This fire has 4 firefighters, one helicopter and airtankers working on this fire.
WEATHER | The forecast for today is as follows, a temperature of 28 degrees, a relative humidity of 20 percent with winds east 15 km/h. There is also a Red Flag Watch in effect. This means that with the current conditions, extreme fire behaviour is expected which will challenge firefighters and aircraft.
THE LONG LAKE COMPLEX | HWF036, HWF058 | JUNE 12, 2023 AS OF 12:00 PM
HWF036 | This fire was detected on May 3, 2023. This fire is classified as Out of Control (OC) with a last recorded size of 155,934 hectares.
Yesterday the fire saw an increase in activity along the powerline easement along highway 58. Crews responded and made progress containing this area. Today, crews will continue their work in this area.
The northeast guard protecting the community of Chateh continues to hold with limited active fire along this edge. Firefighters continue to build containment lines with dozers along Silvertip Road to the gas plant. Cenovus has been working with the Incident Management Team (IMT) to determine a safe return to work plan.
The fire continues to be the most active west and northwest of the Town of Rainbow Lake moving towards the British Columbia border. Heavy equipment is working to establish guards on the southwest side. The Incident Management Team are in daily contact with the IMT in Fort Nelson. Crews are monitoring the fire by air and bucketing priority hot spots.
Aircraft is working on hot spots along Baseline Road and north of Baseline Road. Putting out hot spots as they arise. Crews are patrolling and are using hand ignition to burn out unburnt areas to further contain the area. There has been reduced fire activity along the power easement and gas plant area. Crews have been working with dozers along the fire edge from Winter Road to the power line easement.
Please be aware that there is still active fire burning in the area. Residents are reminded not to enter the fire area due to large number of firefighters, and equipment working. Burnt trees continue to fall which are dangerous.
Incident Management Teams from Canada, America and Australia and a large number of helicopters are currently working at the Incident Command Post located at the Town of Rainbow Lake airport to support this fire.
There are 106 wildland firefighters, Incident Management staff,10 helicopters and heavy equipment working this fire.
HWF058 |This fire is located approximately 80 km southwest of the Town of High Level and approximately 20 km northwest of the of Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement boundary marker, where the Haig River meets the Chinchaga River. This fire is classified as out of control (OC) with an estimated size of 10,612 hectares. There are 45 firefighters, and 3 helicopters working on this fire. This fire is now being managed by the Incident Management Team (IMT) on the Long Lake fire. The Long Lake fire is now the Long Lake Complex.
Yesterday, the fire was very active with growth reported to the east and southeast. Due to the fire area being very active and smoky, crews and aircraft were pulled back due to unsafe conditions.
Weather Forecast | Long Lake Complex
The forecast for today is as follows, a temperature of 28 degrees, a relative humidity of 20 percent with winds east 15 km/h. There is also a Red Flag Watch in effect for tomorrow. This means that with the current conditions, extreme fire behaviour is expected which will challenge firefighters and aircraft.
THE PASKWA FIRE | HWF030 | JUNE 12, 2023 AS OF 12:00 PM
The Paskwa Fire is classified as Out of Control (OC) at 94,477 hectares. The top priorities for managing the Paskwa Fire are full extinguishment of fire within Fox Lake, protecting Garden River, and working toward securing the fire perimeter to prevent significant fire spread.
There is lingering smoke in the community of Fox Lake and ground crews are still working in the community actioning hotspots with helicopters. Today, crews will be working to extinguish hotspots and remove danger trees along Ribbonleg Road and will continue as they expand their work outwards to Prairie Road and other areas around the community, as they are working in stages.
Work continues along the entire northeast perimeter to extinguish hotspots, working to keep the fire south of the Peace River. Today, firefighters are working near 5th Meridian and will continue east, working along the oxbow to extinguish hot spots within the fire perimeter. There are many spotty areas and this will take time for crews to extinguish. Helicopters will also support by bucketing in the area. Aircraft is also monitoring the area for any spotting. This area is a priority to prevent fire spread north across the Peace River and to protect the community of Garden River.
Helicopters will continue bucketing along the southeast perimeter, and today ground crews will continue with fire suppression in the area. Once this work is completed the crews will move upwards to the northeast flank of the wildfire. Most of the heat from the wildfire is located on this flank. There was some movement on the southeast corner but it is being managed by helicopter bucketing.
Firefighters will work to extinguish hotspots from Little Red River moving to Muskeg Creek.
Work continues in Fox Lake to extinguish 75m (250 ft) perimeters around structures and the removal of danger trees. Heavy equipment is working around larger hotspot areas where there is still potential for fire spread to contain the fire while crews work to extinguish these hotspots.
The high-volume water system, water lines, and sprinkler systems on structures are in place in the community of Garden River and structural firefighters will be available as needed. These are proactive measures to ensure the community is prepared should the fires move closer to Garden River.
There are currently 136 personnel supporting the Paskwa Fire response consisting of wildland and structural firefighters, incident management staff, and Paskwa Fire Base support staff. There are also 10 helicopters and 19 pieces of heavy equipment dedicated to the Paskwa fire.
Weather Forecast | Paskwa Fire
Today, the forecast is as follows a temperature of 24 degrees, a relative humidity of 25 percent and winds, northeast 10 km/h. There is also a Red Flag Warning in effect for the Area.
Evacuation Information and Alerts
Little Red River Cree Nation has an evacuation order in place for the community of Fox Lake. The community of Garden River remains on an evacuation alert. For information regarding the evacuation, please stay informed by visiting the Little Red River Cree Nation’s Facebook page.
The community of Garden River is under an evacuation alert.
Wood Buffalo National Park Fire Update| Davidson Complex
The fires in the Davidson Lake area are approximately 49,864 hectares combined and located 23 km northeast of Garden River.
Yesterday, Fire 14 saw significant fire behaviour on the north flank, driven by shifting winds. Fire specialists conducted a second ignition operation to back the fire into Trident Creek to limit the potential of the fire crossing Trident Creek, and so far this has held. This operation was supported by two helicopters from the Paskwa Fire in the Province of Alberta.
The team will continue to monitor for opportunities to conduct these indirect suppression tactics to limit spread of the fire towards the community and values. Forecast rain later next week may allow for direct suppression efforts to occur along the flank closest to Garden River.
Eight bulldozers and two excavators continued building control lines, moving south from dozer line A towards the Peace River.
Crews maintained structure protection around the cabin closest to the southwest flank of the fire. A crew continues to be based out of the Paskwa fire base with one helicopter, in order to continue assessing cabins and maintaining sprinkler systems already in place in the area more easily and efficiently.
This information has been provided by the Wood Buffalo National Park, Fire Information Officer. For more 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
ALBERTA STATE OF EMERGENCY
A provincial state of emergency has been declared. Albertans who require assistance can call 310-4455 for wildfire related information.
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.
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Victoria Ostendorf
Wildfire Information Officer
High Level Forest Area
Mobile: 780-841-9387
Email: victoria.ostendorf@gov.ab.ca