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The wildfire danger is EXTREME in the High Level Forest Area.
WILDFIRE SITUATION REPORT| MAY 14, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.
There are currently five wildfires burning in the High Level Forest Area. Two of these wildfires are classified as out of control and three are under control.
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.
To see all the wildfires burning in Alberta click here.
THE LONG LAKE FIRE | HWF036 | MAY 14, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.
This fire is located in the vicinity of the Town of Rainbow Lake. This wildfire is classified as out of control (OC) at 78,400 hectares.
With the extreme fire behavior yesterday, the fire spread significantly North, Northwest and East. It is currently approximately 23 Km from the community of Chateh. The wildfire is producing significant smoke in the area. This morning, Alberta Wildfire is completing assessments of the current situation of the wildfire and the impacts.
Our top priority is the safety of the people in the Town of Rainbow Lake, Community of Chateh, and Oil and Gas and Energy infrastructure. At this time, there are no structural impacts within the Town of Rainbow Lake. Wildland firefighter crews and wildland urban interface crews have been working through the night to ensure protection of the structures within the town. Power and cellular service have been impacted and an assessment to restore service is underway.
There are road closures in the area. Please visit 511 for the most updated travel information.
The Rainbow Lake Fire Department has completed the sprinkler deployment within town. Structural protection crews will continue protecting structures within the area as the wildfire situation evolves. The wildland urban interface crews along with HAC crews are on night watch to action any flare ups for structural protection within the town.
Today weather will be above seasonal temperatures between 25-30 Celsius. Relative humidity minima are between 15-25% and the Winds are westerly between 15-20 km/h potentially gusting to 40 km.
The Town of Rainbow Lake is on evacuation order.
The Community of Chateh is now on evacuation order.
Please stay informed by downloading the Alberta Emergency Alert mobile app or by visiting their website.
THE PASKWA FIRE | HWF030 | MAY 14, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.
The Paskwa fire is located in the community of Fox Lake and was detected on May 2, 2023. This fire is classified as Out of Control (OC) and the last recorded size is 32,914 hectares. A good overnight recovery prevented further fire growth overnight. As of this update the fire is approximately 14 km southwest of the community of Garden River and approximately 7 km west of the Wood Buffalo National Park.
Today, firefighters and helicopters will continue to work within the community of Fox Lake on
hotspots. Crews will continue to work on building the fire guard along the perimeter from the
Peace River working east along the west and south flank. Great progress is being made and they will also be working east along the perimeter. As of this update there is no further advancement to the cultural heritage site at the Little Red River and the fire remains on the south side of the Peace River.
Firefighters are using all of their available tools to control this wildfire. Ignition operation
tactics reduce fire spread by using current natural barriers and constructed control lines. Ignition
plans will continue to be created to find opportunities to burn areas of concern and create fire
breaks. As the fire situation changes firefighters, helicopters, support staff, heavy equipment and air tankers will be working hard to re-evaluate their tactics to prevent fire spread to communities and critical infrastructure.
An 11-person Structural Protection Group will be arriving in Garden River today. Their role will be
to prepare and protect structures that may be affected by the current fire.
Today there are 76 firefighters, 13 helicopters, heavy equipment and air tankers as requested working on the Paskwa Fire. A 20-person unit crew from New Brunswick and a 3-person HAC crew from Parks Canada arrived yesterday. The night vision capability that enabled night helicopter
operations used for the Paskwa Fire has been reassigned. The helicopter itself will remain on fire
and will have revised flight hours of 3 pm to 10 pm.
Little Red River Cree Nation has an evacuation order in place for the community of Fox Lake.
There is now an evacuation alert for the community of Garden River.
Weather Forecast | Paskwa Fire (HWF030)
The Incident Management Team has a dedicated Fire Behaviour Analyst and therefore the weather
briefing will be fire area specific. Hot and dry conditions continue with no significant rain in the
forecast. Today's forecast is as follows, a temperature of 26 degrees, relative humidity at 20
percent, and winds from the west of 10-15 km/h gusting to 25 km/h.
Where can I find more information about the wildfires?
Current information on wildfires can be found:
- alberta.ca
- Download the Alberta Wildfire Status App https://open.alberta.ca/blog/?page_id=206
- High Level Forest Area Updates: https://srd.web.alberta.ca/high-level-area-update
- Follow Alberta Wildfire on Facebook, twitter and Instagram.
To Report a wildfire call 310-FIRE(3473)
SMOKE RELATED ISSUES
If you see smoke that is causing safety concerns to road conditions, please report to Alberta 511. Individuals experiencing smoke related health issues, can contact Alberta Health. To see a map showing the smoke forecast please click here.
WEATHER
Hot and dry conditions are expected to continue and will continue to challenge firefighters and aircraft. Today, the forecast is calling for a high of 25 degrees, a relative humidity of 15 per cent with winds from the Southeast 15 km/h.
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
A provincial state of emergency has been declared. Albertans who require assistance can call 310-4455 for wildfire related information.
Before you head out to the forested areas in the province, make sure you are aware of the fire ban situation and OHV restrictions in your area. When firefighters are sent to extinguish abandoned campfires, they are valuable resources taken away, that could be fighting other wildfires which could threaten homes or communities.
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.
WE URGE RESIDENTS AND RECREATIONALISTS TO USE EXTRA CAUTION
Due to the current dry grass, warm weather and possible windy conditions, there is an increased risk of wildfires in the Forest Area. We urge residents and visitors to exercise caution and take the following precautions:
- Do not start any fires or use open flames in areas that are susceptible to catching fire, such as near dry vegetation like grass or wooded areas.
- Dispose of cigarettes and other smoking materials properly, do not throw them on the ground.
- If you see a wildfire, immediately call 310-FIRE (3473) and report the location of the fire.
- Avoid using equipment that could generate sparks, friction or flames, such as power tools or lawn mowers, in areas with dry vegetation.
- Ensure grinders and welders are properly maintained and used in areas that are free from dry vegetation. Have sufficient water and tools on hand. Always keep watch of your surroundings and look around at regular intervals for smoke or flames that may have been accidently ignited.
We encourage everyone to stay informed about the current wildfire risk and to follow any guidance or orders from emergency personnel. By working together and taking proactive steps, we can help reduce the risk of wildfires in our community.
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.
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Stephanie Grocholski
Wildfire Information Officer
High Level Forest Area
Email: wildfireinfo@gov.ab.ca
Mobile: 780-926-7509
Victoria Ostendorf | Paskwa Fire (HWF030)
Wildfire Information Officer
High Level Forest Area
Email: victoria.ostendorf@gov.ab.ca
Mobile: 780-841-9387