Lac La Biche Forest Area - December 19, 2023

A wildfire can start at anytime of year especially if conditions are right. Our lack of snow coverage and above seasonal temperatures have created good conditions for wildfires. We encourage you to wait to start any burning projects until we receive 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).

On behalf of Alberta Wildfire we wish you a safe and wonderful holiday! If you and your family are heading out into the forest over the Christmas break we ask that you recreate safely and always remember to properly extinguish your campfire by soaking it, stirring it and soaking it again.

WINTER BURNING

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.

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.

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.

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TREE CUTTING PERMIT

Are you interested in harvesting your own Christmas tree this year? Be sure to obtain your Personal Use Forest Products Permit (PUFPP) for free before you visit one of the province’s designated Crown land areas.

Please visit www.alberta.ca/treecuttingpermits for more information on how to acquire your free permit.

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 recreationalist will often leave the area soon after. If you're having a cooking or warming fire 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. 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 LOW.

Since January 1, 2023, there have been 192 wildfires in the Lac La Biche Forest Area, burning 7,934 hectares (ha).

There are currently two 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 1,129 wildfires burning a total of 2,211,633 ha.

firesmart community grant

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