Lac La Biche Area Update

The fire danger in the Lac La Biche Forest Area is VERY HIGH. 

Report smoke or fire in the forest by calling 310-FIRE (3473).

WILDFIRE SITUATION

There are currently five wildfires in the Lac La Biche Forest Area. One is being held and four are under control at this time. 

LWF-087 - being held (BH) - 35 km northeast of Athabasca near the "C" Road and the Athabasca River Bridge. Firefighters and aircraft continue to work on this fire. 

There have been 87 wildfires in the Lac La Biche Forest Area so far this year. These wildfires have burned 216.39 hectares.

There are no wildfires of note in the Lac La Biche Forest Area at this time. A wildfire of note is determined to be of significant public interest and may pose a threat to public safety, communities or critical infrastructure.

There have been 262 wildfires in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta so far this year. These wildfires have burned 473.94 hectares. 

CAMPFIRE SAFETY

We urge everyone to use caution when working and recreating outdoors. Never leave your campfire unattended.

• Never leave your campfire unattended! Always ensure it is properly extinguished when you are done with it. Soak it with water, stir it and soak it again until the ashes are cool to the touch.

• Let the fire burn down before you plan on putting it out. Spread the embers within the fire pit, then add water or loose dirt, and stir.

• Expose any material still burning. Add more water and stir again until you can no longer see smoke or steam. Do not bury your fire as the embers may continue to smolder and can re-emerge as a wildfire.

• Repeat until your campfire is cool to the touch.

• If your fire is out, you should not be able to feel any heat from the ashes.

• Follow these guidelines to build a safe campfire: wildfire.alberta.ca/prevention/campfire-safety  

OHV SAFETY

Use caution when riding your off-highway vehicle in forested areas.

• Exhaust systems heat up to temperatures in excess of 204 degrees Celsius; hot enough to fry an egg and start a wildfire.
• At these temperatures, built up materials and debris on your machine (such as grass, muskeg, moss, or other debris) can heat up, smoulder and ignite.
• The smouldering debris can drop to the ground as you’re riding, starting a wildfire.

Before you ride, clean any debris that has built up near the exhaust and muffler, under the seat, in wheel wells and around the engine. During your ride, stop regularly to clean your hotspots. Dry grass and vegetation that accumulate near the exhaust, ignite and cause a wildfire when it falls to the ground. Always carry a small fire extinguisher, a collapsible shovel and water. These tools can help extinguish a wildfire and safely dispose of hot debris.

NEW FIRE PERMIT PORTAL LAUNCHED

You can now request your fire permit online through a new online portal. During wildfire season, fire permits are required for any burning in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta, except for campfires.

Fire permits are free and help us track what is burning on the landscape. If you're burning without a fire permit or outside fire permit conditions, your fire is considered a wildfire. By getting a permit before burning, you help keep our firefighters free to fight real wildfires instead of responding to the smoke in your backyard.

To request a fire permit online, visit the new portal. You will need a MyAlberta Digital ID to access the portal. Please note that you can still request your permit from the Lac La Biche forest office by calling 780-623-5388.

NEW WILDFIRE DASHBOARD

The new wildfire dashboard provides up-to-date wildfire information at the click of a button. This interactive tool displays important statistics on the number of active wildfires in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta, sizes, locations, suspected causes and more.

The dashboard builds on the former wildfire status map by displaying the most frequently accessed information in one convenient location.

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.

For more information please contact: 

Provincial Wildfire Information Officer

780-420-1968

wildfireinfo@gov.ab.ca

Related Information

Websites:

• Alberta Wildfire
• Alberta Fire Bans
• FireSmart in Alberta
• Alberta Emergency Alerts
• Air Quality Health Index
• Wildfire Smoke and Your Health
• 511 Road Reports
• Emergency Preparation
  

Social Media:

Join the conversation on

• • Alberta Wildfire App for Apple or Android.
  • Alberta Fire Bans App for Apple or Android.