The Fire Ban and OHV Restriction has been lifted in the High Level Forest Area and a Fire Restriction is in place. For your safety, please stay away from active wildfire areas within the High Level Forest Area. 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.
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 14 wildfires in the High Level Forest Area. Of these fires, six are classified as out of control (OC), three are being held (BH) and five are under control (UC). Please see the updates below regarding information on 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.
Firefighters have responded to six new wildfires today, HWF073-HWF078. Of these fires, one is OC, two are BH, one is UC and two are extinguished.
Wildfires of interest;
HWF075 | This fire is approximately 24 km west of Garden River, and 2 km north of highway 58. This fire is classified as out of control (OC) at 4 hectares. The fire is growing in a southwest direction and there is no threat to the community of Garden River at this time. There are 4 helicopters and airtankers working on this fire. This evening the fire saw a bit of rain as thundershowers passed through the area. Heavy equipment will be working on this fire overnight.
HWF072 | This fire is located approximately 36 km southwest of South tall Cree and highway 88. This fire is classified as out of control (OC) at 180 hectares. This fire received some rain this afternoon and therefore activity was low. There are 9 firefighters, 3 helicopters and airtankers working on this fire. There are no communities at risk at this time.
THE BEACH ROAD FIRE | HWF064 | This fire was detected June 9th, 2023. This fire is classified as out of control (OC) with a last recorded size of 5,258 hectares. This fire is being managed by the High level Forest Area and there is an Incident Management Team (IMT) in place. The fire is located approximately 10km northwest of Zama City.
This afternoon a storm rolled into the area and the fire received some rain. This gave firefighters some reprieve and allowed them to work safely on priority areas.
Heavy equipment continues to create guards around the community. Structure protection units are in place in the community and are ready if needed. In addition, crews, heavy equipment and aircraft continue their work on the east and south sides of the fire to prevent spread towards the community. Crews are also working with industry partners to protect critical infrastructure.
There are 70 wildland and structural firefighters, 6 helicopters, support staff and heavy equipment working on this fire. Airtankers are available as needed.
THE LONG LAKE COMPLEX | HWF036, HWF058 | JUNE 24, 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 168,614 hectares. This increase in size is due to internal pockets within the fire perimeter burning and updated mapping data from aerial intel. The increase is not as a result of any increased fire activity. Firefighters, aircraft and heavy equipment have made great progress therefore we now have 62% of the fire line contained and being held.
An aerial scan that was done has identified hot spots within the fire perimeter that firefighters will focus on today. The fire is still active on the western and northern border, moving towards the British Columbia border. Crews are burning out this area and working with dozers.
The northeast guard protecting the community of Chateh continues to hold with limited activity fire along this edge. Firefighters continue to monitor and strengthen containment lines. Vegetation inside the fire perimeter continues to burn and firefighters continue to black out and mop up hot spots as they arise.
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.
HWF058 |This fire is located approximately 80 km southwest of the Town of High Level and approximately 17 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 21,356 hectares.
Dozers continue to work on the western edge of the fire along the power easement and the south west corner, this area saw increased activity yesterday however crews jumped on priority hot spots quickly.
Firefighters expect to see increased activity today however the fire will not see any large runs. Hot spots were bombed by air and further retardant may be dropped on the Eastern side of the fire to prevent further spreading.
Crews are flying into the fire line daily as access is challenging. The IMT continues to work closely with locals on understanding the local environment and getting access to the fire ground. A base camp for crews has been established at Keg River Camp, southwest of Paddle Prairie.
There are currently 313 personnel, 18 aircraft and 60 heavy equipment are working across this complex of fires. The Incident Management Team continues to work closely with effected communities, First Nations and industry stakeholders.
BC have also observed increased activity with their three fires on the border. They are in remote country with no community and are being monitored by air. The Long Lake Fire complex Incident Management Team is in daily contact with the BC Wildfire Service. For more information on these fires please go BC Wildfire Service (gov.bc.ca)
Weather Forecast | Long Lake Complex
The forecast for today is as follows, a temperature of 21 degrees, a relative humidity of 55 percent with winds northeast 15km/h gusting to 30km/h.
Firefighters and water trucks are working in the community of Fox Lake on hotspot. June 24, 2023.
THE PASKWA FIRE | HWF030 | JUNE 24, 2023 AS OF 12:00 PM
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 estimated at 96,582 hectares and this fire is classified as out of control (OC). The top priorities for managing the Paskwa Fire are full extinguishment of fire in Fox Lake, protecting Garden River, and working toward securing the fire perimeter to prevent significant fire spread.
Due to debris in the Peace River the barges are having difficulty operating at this time. Firefighters still have access to the community via aircraft as conditions allow as it is very smoky today. There are water trucks and equipment in Fox Lake ready for wildfire suppression if needed.
Yesterday, ground crews were still working in the community working on hotspots with hand tools and water. Crews will continue to remove danger trees within the community as they’re spotted.
There are light-medium smokes surfacing in Fox Lake from within the burned-out fire perimeter as crews pile and burn off debris. This is a controlled and monitored practice to get rid of unwanted downed trees that have been piled to burn off and clean-up the wildfire zone. These burning piles are burning on bare mineral soil and are located away from any structures in town.
Yesterday, bucketing operations worked on a hotspot on the northeast side of the fire perimeter to keep the area cool and this will continue to keep fire from spreading. Crews will continue to work to secure 250 feet around roadways by extinguishing hotspots.
Due to the river swell and flooding in central Alberta that has made it’s way north pumps in Garden River had to moved up the bank. These systems will be tested this again this morning to ensure that equipment is in good working order.
The high-volume water system, water lines, and sprinkler systems on structures are still 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. These systems are tested every morning for efficiency in the equipment.
Parks Canada and Alberta Wildfire have come together in Unified Command, allowing these two agencies to work together closely and share resources to protect the community of Garden River for the Davidson wildfire.
Many aerial scans have been completed over the course of this wildfire event and will be ongoing. The information we receive from the data gives the operations team a better plan of action as to where the deep burning hotspots in the area.
There are 164 personnel supporting the Paskwa/Davidson fire response consisting of wildland and structural firefighters, incident management staff, and Paskwa Fire Base support staff. There are 12 helicopters and heavy equipment dedicated to the Paskwa/Davidson fire.
Evacuation Alerts and Information
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.
Weather Forecast | Paskwa Fire (HWF030)
Today, a temperature of 23 degrees with winds out of the northeast at 10-15 km/h shifting to the northeast at 15-20 km/h in the afternoon with gusts of 40 km/h. Relative humidity will be 40 percent. Due to the higher temperatures, we can expect to see an increase in fire behavior in the afternoon. Bucketing operations will be utilized heavy today as we prepare for potential flare-ups on these fires.
Davidson Lake Complex (Wildfires 8, 9, 11, 13, 14) – Wood Buffalo National Park
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 PREPARDNESS | 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
Mobile: 780-841-9387
Email: victoria.ostendorf@gov.ab.ca