Lac La Biche Forest Area - December 1, 2023

There is little to no snow cover in the Lac La Biche Forest Area. We encourage you to wait to start any burning projects until we see a significant amount of snow in the area, at least 15 cm.

If you see smoke or flame in the forest please call 310-FIRE (3473).

WINTER BURNING

While fire permits are not required for burning outside of wildfire season in certain areas within the Forest Protection Area of Alberta. Residents and industry planning a burn during winter should keep safe burning practices top of mind and follow Alberta Wildfire’s guidelines. These include some of the following:

Carefully select your burn site and do not burn until you have good snow cover in the area (more than 15 cm).
Check weather conditions and refrain from burning when an inversion is in place or is forecasted. If you're burning near a roadway, we encourage the use of smoke signs to warn drivers of the smoky conditions on the highway.
Consult your local municipality on how to safely undertake larger winter burning projects near communities or roads.
Actively manage burn projects to reduce total burning time.
Burn debris in stages so that you can adapt to changing weather conditions and reduce smoke.
Ensure you have the right tools, water and equipment on hand to keep the burn under control.

Please keep in mind that there is still little to no snow coverage in the Lac La Biche Forest Area at this time. We strongly encourage you to delay any planned burns until there is at least 15 cm of snow. Always supervise your burning piles. Due to the dry conditions and lack of snow cover holdover fires are likely this season. Holdover fires are fires that have burned deep into the ground and are likely to pop-up in the spring if they were not properly extinguished and conditions are right.

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TREE CUTTING PERMIT

Heading out to harvest a Christmas tree from public land? Please visit www.alberta.ca/treecuttingpermits for more information on how to acquire your free permit.

NOW HIRING - DEADLINE EXTENDED TO DECEMBER 7

Alberta Wildfire is hiring! We’re looking for hard-working and dedicated people to join our team as wildfire crew members for the 2024 wildfire season. Find out more: https://bit.ly/46xOMZN

If you have any questions about the recruitment process or would like more information regarding the job please email WF.WildfireEmployment@gov.ab.ca.

When extinguishing your warming fire you should always soak it, stir it and soak it again until the coals are cold to the touch.

COOKING AND WARMING FIRES

As the temperatures start to cool, cooking and warming fires are very common and firefighters will often find them unattended or abandoned. These fires still pose a risk of starting a wildfire even in the winter months if conditions are right.

These cooking and warming fires are used for a short period of time and the hunter or recreationalist will often leave the area soon after. If you're having a cooking or warming fire during your hunt or ride we recommend using an existing fire ring if possible, otherwise, choose a location that's on level ground, sheltered from the wind and on bare mineral soil.

If you build your fire on peat material, you risk creating a deep burning fire that could be challenging to extinguish. Recent snow fall can make it seem as though your fire is safe to be extinguished by the elements. Avoid using snow to cover your fire as your campfire could have burned deep into the ground and could re-ignite again when conditions are right.

Before you leave, ensure you fully extinguish the fire by soaking it with water, stirring the ashes, and soaking it again. Your fire isn't fully extinguished until the ashes are cool to the touch.

For more safe campfire tips click here.

LAC LA BICHE WILDFIRE UPDATE

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

Since January 1, 2023, there have been 191 wildfires in the Lac La Biche Forest Area, burning 7,934 hectares (ha).

There are currently three wildfires burning in the Lac La Biche Forest Area and they're all classified as under control and pose no threat to any communities or infrastructure.

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

PROVINCIAL WILDFIRE UPDATE

Since January 1, 2023 in the Forest Protection Area, there have been 1,120 wildfires burning a total of 2,211,963 ha.

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FIRESMART

Groups can also apply for a $500 award to fund their Prep Day events. FireSmart™ Canada, in collaboration with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR), and The Co-operators supports this annual event by offering the $500 award. For more information on how you can make a difference please visit firesmartcanada.ca

WILDFIRE INFORMATION

Subscribe to your local Forest Area update or other Forest Area updates and they'll come directly to your email. You can visit our updates, enter your email address and click Instant then Subscribe.

You can also download the AB Wildfire Status App, click the "i" at the bottom left for the most recent update. To be notified when new updates are live you can click the bell for notifications and scroll to the Lac La Biche Forest Area Update.

Visit the Alberta Wildfire website at wildfire.alberta.ca for more information on the current wildfire situation.

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:

Colby Lachance

Area Information Coordinator

780-404-9186

colby.lachance@gov.ab.ca