The wildfire danger in the High Level Forest Area is now MODERATE.
The High Level Forest Area is NO LONGER UNDER A FIRE RESTRICTION, which was officially rescinded Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 27).
Cooler temperatures and precipitation have allowed the lifting of this restriction and farmers and others with debris to be burned are encouraged to get their fire permits now, while conditions are conducive to controlled and careful burning.
If you see smoke or flame and suspect it's a wildfire, please call 310-FIRE (3473).
Residents and others in the vicinity of John D'Or Prairie are asked to watch out for firefighters in their community over the next few days, as we remove structural protection from buildings and roadways.
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.
*The next update will be available tomorrow evening, unless conditions change.
A K-1200, or KMAX, heavy helicopter works on the Semo Wildfire Complex yesterday (Aug. 26, 2024). The KMAX has only one seat for the pilot and has intermeshing rotors, which means they are designed to cross over each other at an angle. Most other helicopters have only one main rotor and a tail rotor, but a KMAX doesn’t need a tail rotor due to the two it has on top. It also has a power-fill bucket, which – using a motor – allows filling from fairly shallow bodies of water. The KMAX can hold up to 2,500 litres of water at a time.
HIGH LEVEL FOREST AREA | WILDFIRE SITUATION
There are currently 20 wildfires burning in the High Level Forest Area. Of these, one is out of control, 12 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 173 wildfires in the High Level Forest Area, burning a total of 326,643 hectares (ha).
NASA FIRMS Fire Information website is a great resource to give an approximate location of hotspots in an area, but cannot always be used to determine specifically where a wildfire is burning. The heat from smoke columns, reflections from water and other heat signatures will appear on the map. It's important to note that the data is based on a mathematical estimate (interpolation) and can often make a wildfire appear larger than it actually is.
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.
WEATHER FORECAST: The temperature in the area is expected to reach 18C on Tuesday with a relative humidity (RH) of 60 percent. Winds are expected from the northwest at 20-25 km/h, gusting at 40-45 km/h. Some precipitation is forecast over the next 24 hours.
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 592 firefighters and support personnel, 26 helicopters and 107 pieces of heavy equipment and water trucks currently working on the Semo Wildfire Complex.
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 estimated to be 106,647 hectares (ha) and located approximately:
- 8.8 km northeast of the community boundary line of John D'Or Prairie
- 10.7 km north of the community boundary line of Fox Lake
- 1.7 km north of Highway 58
HWF136 is estimated to be 6,038 ha in size. 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 nearby Caribou Mountain Wildland Provincial Park. Most of these wildfires were caused by lightning, but two of the wildfires remain under investigation (HWF136 and HWF141). These wildfires include:
- HWF053, which is approximately 709 ha in size.
- HWF081, which is approximately 52,036 ha in size.
- HWF083, which is approximately 35,582 ha in size.
- HWF141, which is approximately 2,534 ha in size.
Fire Operations
Firefighter, supported by bucketing operations, continue to work towards achieving a 100-foot control line along the southern perimeter of HWF061. Heavy equipment operators continue to make safer lines for crews by working with danger tree assessors and fallers to remove trees that could be hazardous.
Crews, with the support of helicopters, continue to look for any hotspots within the perimeter of HWF136 to extinguish, working towards 100 feet of controlled line.
Progress continues to be made mulching downed logs on the north side of Highway 58. This work is expected to speed up with larger mulchers now in place and with smaller trees and branches along the rest of the highway stretch. An additional 0.9 km was completed yesterday.
Today, structure protection crews started demobilizing (removing) equipment in John D’Or Prairie, which may be completed as early as tomorrow evening. Structure protection at Pitchimi Lake will stay up for now, as a precaution.
Weather Forecast
Tomorrow, the temperature is forecast to reach 20C with a relative humidity around 45 percent. Winds are expected from west-northwest at 10-15 km/h, gusting up to 35 km/h. Winds are then expected to shift around noon to come from the west at 20-25 km/h, gusting up to 45 km/h. There is no precipitation in the forecast.
An aerial view of HWF061 (Aug. 25, 2024), the largest wildfire in the Semo Complex and the closest to the communities of John D'Or Prairie and Fox Lake, which is now BEING HELD (BH) – meaning all six fires in this complex are now BH (see below). This steady progress is due to the dedicated and ongoing efforts of Alberta firefighters and support personnel, including crews from the Little Red River Cree Nation, and the support of our Canadian and international partners.
View the full public map of the Semo Wildfire Complex.
Contained fire line: a secured perimeter of at least 10 feet that is maintained by firefighters using mechanical, hose line, or natural barriers.
Controlled fire line: a secured perimeter of at least 100 feet, including around all hot spots that are an immediate threat, which is expected to hold under the foreseeable conditions.
OTHER ACTIVE WILDFIRES IN THE HIGH LEVEL FOREST AREA
HWF072, which is burning OUT OF CONTROL, is located 45 km west of Zama City and 60 km northwest of Chateh. This fire is estimated to be 36,291 ha in size. Visibility remains good, which allowed air and ground operations today.
There are 112 firefighting personnel, 10 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.
HWF047, which is UNDER CONTROL, is approximately 30 km north of the Town of High Level and covers an area of 1,707 ha. Approximately 15 firefighters and four helicopters are assigned to HWF047, continuing their work towards extinguishing this wildfire.
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 (as of 10 a.m., Aug. 27)
The fire danger for most of the Boreal region and eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains is moderate to high except for pockets of the High Level, and Grande Prairie Forest Areas where the fire danger is very high to extreme. Fire danger is also high to very high for the Fort McMurray, Lac la Biche, Rocky Mountain House and Calgary Forest Areas. The fire danger remains extreme in much of the agricultural zone.
Since January 1, 2024 in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta, there have been 1106 wildfires burning a total of 706,725 hectares (ha).
Last year, on this date, there were 985 wildfires that burnt a total of 2,204,517 ha. In the past five years on this date, an average of 934 wildfires had burnt an average of 635,883 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.
FIRE SAFETY AND FARM MACHINES
As we transition into the harvest season, the combine harvester becomes a familiar sight. These enormous machines are built to separate seeds from dry crop plants and discard remaining material.
It is well known among farmers and rural residents that the combine is the farm machine the most at risk of fire. The reason is not the machine itself, but rather the tinder-dry material that the combine works with and the heat caused by long hours of continuous operation.
Mitigating fire risk on the combine can be divided into three categories:
✅Prevention:
- Clearing out any excess chaff around the engine, radiator, exhaust, bearings, augers, belts and chains
- Cleaning any excess oil, fuel, grease, and other leaks
- Replacing any damaged electrical wiring, exhaust systems, and drive belts
- Shutting off the combine before fueling
- Lubricating moving components, according to manufacturer recommendations
- Storing the combine away from external heat sources
- Ceasing operations during excessive heat
✅Monitoring:
- Performing a walk-around inspection of the combine after morning start-up and evening shut-off
- Routinely checking temperature gauges and sensors
✅Suppression:
- Be sure to have up-to-date ABC dry chemical fire extinguishers: a 10-lb extinguisher in the cab, and a 20-lb extinguisher at ground level. Know where they are and how to use them.
- In the event of a combine fire:
- shut off the engine
- exit the combine
- call 911
- if using a fire extinguisher, aim for the base of the fire
Tractors, combines, swathers, balers, and other heavy machinery on the farm can all cause wildfires. Prevention is the best way to protect people, homes, landscapes and livelihoods.
Learn more about reducing wildfire risks on the farm; download the FireSmart Farm and Acreage Guide.
FIRESMART
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.
Vegetation management is the modification of wildland fuels for the purpose of mitigating the potential intensities and impact of wildfire. Vegetation management as a strategy for reducing wildfire hazard makes a lot of sense: wildfire requires fuel, in the form of vegetation, to burn. If we can change the fuel, we can change the wildfire's behaviour. For suggestions on landscaping tips, you can view the FireSmart Guide to Landscaping.
To learn more on how you can protect your home, visit FireSmart Alberta. For farm or acreages, you can download the Farm and Acreage FireSmart magazine.
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
