Never leave your cooking or warming fire unattended and always ensure you fully extinguish it. Soak the ashes, stir them and soak them again until they're cool to the touch.
If you see smoke or flame and suspect it's a wildfire, please call 310-FIRE (3473).
This update is best viewed on a web browser or the AB Wildfire Status App | View previous High Level Forest Area Updates. Bold indicates new or important information.
Fall is a busy time of year in the farming community, with completing the harvest and getting the last of the bales hauled in before the snow. Wildfire is probably the last thing on your mind, but with a little planning in the fall you can reduce the threat of wildfire for the coming winter and spring.
HIGH LEVEL FOREST AREA | WILDFIRE SITUATION
There are currently 21 wildfires burning in the High Level Forest Area. Of these, 14 are being held, and seven are classified as under control. There is also one wildfire along the Alberta-N.W.T. border.
Since January 1, 2024, there have been 177 wildfires in the High Level Forest Area, burning a total of 326,023 hectares (ha).
You can view the location and statistics of these wildfires on our interactive map by following the active wildfire link. Visit our website to learn more about wildfire classifications.
HIGH LEVEL FOREST AREA | ACTIVE WILDFIRES OF INTEREST
HCX001 – Semo Complex (HWF053, HWF061, HWF081, HWF083, HWF136, HWF141)
The Semo Wildfire Complex is located north of John D'Or Prairie and Fox Lake, and west of Garden River.
There are currently 491 firefighters and support personnel, including 26 helicopters and 102 pieces of heavy equipment and water trucks working on the Semo Wildfire Complex. Firefighters from Costa Rica, Québec and Yukon are working alongside our Alberta firefighters.
All of the wildfires within the Semo Complex are classified as BEING HELD. Being held means that these wildfires are not expected to grow beyond established boundaries under the current conditions.
HWF061 is approximately 105,871 hectares (ha), was caused by lightning and is located approximately:
- 8 km northeast of the community boundary line of John D'Or Prairie
- 7 km north of the community boundary line of Fox Lake
- 7 km north of Highway 58
HWF136 is approximately 5,480 ha in size and the cause of this wildfire is under investigation. This wildfire is located along the north side of Highway 58 and is approximately 13 km northwest of Garden River.
Other fires in this complex are further north, within or near Caribou Mountain Wildland Provincial Park. All of these fires were caused by lightning, except for HWF141, which remains under investigation. These wildfires include:
- HWF053 is approximately 709 ha in size.
- HWF081 is approximately 52,026 ha in size.
- HWF083 is approximately 35,407 ha in size.
- HWF141 is approximately 2,537 ha in size.
Fire Operations
Firefighters continue working on a 100-foot control line along the southern perimeter of HWF061, aided by bucketing helicopters. This is long and tedious work, as crews need to expand from the established 10-foot containment line to a 100-foot control line into the perimeter of the fire. Feller bunchers are pieces of heavy equipment that are used to cut down trees easily and safely; we currently have four feller bunchers working to remove hazard trees to improve crew safety. Intense fires often weaken tree roots, making them prone to falling and posing a risk to firefighters. Heavy equipment then removes these hazardous trees to make a clear line for crews and other heavy equipment to work from.
Good progress continues to be made on HWF136, strategically locating and extinguishing hotspots within the fire perimeter, with helicopter support. They are working toward establishing a 100-foot controlled line. Once this fire is 100 per cent controlled, Firefighters will be relocated to HWF061, which will assist to speed up the process in achieving their objectives.
Low-level heat scans were completed last night over priority areas on HWF061. These low-level scans refine the perimeter boundary, helping firefighters better assess the length of perimeter they need to work on and allocate resources to. The results showed that no hotspots were found beyond the perimeter that firefighters have been working on.
Structure protection equipment at Pitchimi Lake remains in place as a precaution.
Weather Forecast
Today, the temperature is forecasted to be a high of 21C with relative humidity of 35 per cent. Winds are expected from the southeast 15-20 km/h, gusting up to 35 km/h. There’s no chance of precipitation today. Tomorrow, a high of 24C with relative humidity of 35 per cent is expected. Winds from the southwest 15-20 km/h, gusting to 35 km/h with no chance of precipitation.
We are experiencing an unseasonable trend of hot and dry weather, which may lead to increased fire behaviour along sections of the perimeter where crews haven’t been working. Residents may see smoke from these areas of unburnt vegetation from within the fire perimeter, but they are not near any communities or threaten the containment lines.
OTHER ACTIVE WILDFIRES IN THE HIGH LEVEL FOREST AREA
HWF072, which is BEING HELD, is located 45 km west of Zama City and 60 km northwest of Chateh. This wildfire is estimated to be 35,921 ha in size.
There are approximately 105 firefighting personnel, nine helicopters and two dozer groups (10 pieces) of heavy equipment assigned to HWF072. Heavy equipment operators continue working to establish and enhance containment lines around the perimeter, while firefighters (supported by heli-bucketing) work on hotspots. The cause of HWF072 has been determined to be lightning.
HTZ001 (bordering on the N.W.T. to the north), which included previous areas of concern to the NE and SE of Bistcho Lake, is classified as BEING HELD and is being monitored closely. Please see NWT Wildfire Update Map and the South Slave SS009-24 Update for more information on the status of this and other fires on the N.W.T. side of the border.
No significant growth has been observed on the above-noted wildfires and none currently threaten communities.
To view these and other wildfires in Alberta, view our interactive map by following the active wildfire link.
PROVINCIAL WILDFIRE SITUATION
The fire danger is very high to extreme in the northern boreal, around Grande Prairie, and in the agricultural zone. Fire danger is moderate to high elsewhere.
Since January 1, 2024 in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta, there have been 1,137 wildfires burning a total of 707,038 hectares (ha).
Last year, on this date, there were 998 wildfires that burnt a total of 2,204,523 ha. In the past five years on this date, an average of 966 wildfires had burnt an average of 636,371 ha.
WILDFIRE SAFETY MESSAGES
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.
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. To see forecasted smoke, please visit FireSmoke.ca. If you have smoke related health concerns, please visit or contact Alberta 811.
ALBERTA HEALTH WILDFIRE RESOURCES | You can visit Alberta Health Services for information on how you or your loved ones can access resources related to wildfire impacts and smoke 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 firefighters the space they need to do their jobs safely. *Transport Canada.
FIRESMART YOUR HOME AND PROPERTY
FireSmart is a national program that helps Canadians increase their resilience to wildfire. Whether you are a homeowner, resident, business, local government, or Indigenous community, you can take small steps with lasting impacts.
Now that fall is quickly approaching, we ask farm and acreage owners to start thinking about FireSmart options for their property. Here are some tips to get you started:
FENCE LINES AND DITCHES | Unmanaged fence lines, ditches or roadsides usually have a large accumulation of grass, weeds and brush that can act as a wick, carrying intense, quick-spreading fires into your yard, fields or building sites. Manage the vegetation along fence lines and ditches leading up to your building sites or to other values for at least 100 metres (300 feet) in all directions. This can be done by mowing these areas. At minimum, mow them once late in the fall. Herbicide or a weed-eater can also help minimize the vegetation under the wires and between the posts. Remember to ensure that all your corral lines are also free from vegetation that could wick fire into your fenced feed areas.
Learn more about reducing wildfire risks on the farm; download the FireSmart Farm and Acreage Guide.
WILDFIRE INFORMATION
- Visit firesmoke.ca to view smoke drifts in the area
- Call 811 for smoke-related health concerns
- For evacuation information, please visit https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-emergency-alert.aspx
- 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, check the fire bans website or download the app to determine if 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.
- Missed an issue of the High Level Forest area Wildfire Update? You can find previous updates on our website.
- For evacuation orders and alerts in the Province visit Alberta Emergency Alerts or your community webpage for more information.
- For road closure information, visit Alberta 511 or download the app.
- To see all the wildfires burning in Alberta click here.
- Learn how you can prepare yourself for a wildfire with some tips and tricks on wildfire preparedness
