Lac La Biche Forest Area - April 18, 2023

As of March 1, permits are required for any burning with the exception of a campfire, in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta.

You can apply online for your free fire permit and please contact the Lac La Biche Forest Area office (780-623-5388) if you have any questions.

LAC LA BICHE FOREST AREA FIRE DANGER RATING

The wildfire danger in the Lac La Biche Forest Area remains MODERATE.

WILDFIRE SITUATION

Since January 1, 2023, there has been 22 wildfire in the Lac La Biche Forest Area burning approximately 66 ha.

Wildfires can happen during the winter/spring if conditions are right. You should be aware of your surroundings and ensure you always have sufficient firefighting equipment in case your fire escapes.

To view active wildfires in the Lac La Biche area on a map, visit the Alberta Wildfire status page.

PROVINCIAL WILDFIRE INFORMATION

Since January 1, 2023 in the Forest Protection Area, there have been 79 wildfires burning a total of approximately 204 ha.

WILDFIRE SURVEY

Alberta Wildfire is looking for your input! We want to know what information is important to you and how we can best deliver it. Please take the time to fill out this short survey regarding how you receive wildfire information to help ensure we are delivering the information that matters to Albertans.

Link: your.alberta.ca/wildfire-information-survey

HAZARD REDUCTION BURNING

In the spring Alberta Wildfire utilizes this time by conducting many hazard reduction burns across the province.

Goals of hazard reduction burning include:

strategically removing hazardous grass and debris around communities and infrastructure while reducing the threat of a wildfire
reducing the risk of off-highway vehicles in the area
increases wildland firefighting training and cross-training if local municipal fire departments assist

Benefits of hazard reduction burns include:

enhancing community protection by safely removing high-risk areas of grass and vegetation
reinforcing pre-planned wildfire containment lines around communities

PERMITS ARE REQUIRED

Fire permits are now required for burning within the Forest Protection Area, excluding campfires.

Alberta Wildfire uses fire permits to keep track of burning being done throughout the province. This ensures that when smoke is reported, we can look into our system and check whether this is a wildfire or a permitted burn being done.

Wildfire season started March 1, all winter burning projects should be extinguished with the exception of campfires. However, if your winter burn project has extended into fire season we ask that you get your free burn permit. You can do this by going online if you have any questions you can call the Lac La Biche office at 780-623-5388.

To assist the Lac La Biche Forest Area, please let us know if you plan any large-scale burning by contacting the office 780-623-5388.

FirePermitOnline

CHECK YOUR WINTER BURN PROJECTS

Following safe burning practices is always in season and it can help prevent holdover fires that can start spring wildfires. Although snow helps reduce the risk of the fire burning into the ground, we recommend that you regularly check your winter burning sites to ensure that the fire is out.

You can do this by:

-walking your site and feeling the ground with your hand for heat

-looking for any visible lingering smoke patches or spots of melting snow

-rolling over any debris and checking for hotspots

-soaking any remaining hotspots with water and stirring up the ashes until it's cold to the touch

If fires aren’t properly put out, they can burn underground in the ice and snow and under the right conditions, these fires can re-emerge as wildfires in the spring.

WILDFIRE INFORMATION

The newly designed wildfire website is available wildfire.alberta.ca.

You will still be able to access popular pages such as the wildfire status page, but with some new features including a live calling link for the 310-FIRE reporting service when accessing the website from your mobile device.

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:

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