A wildfire can start at anytime of year especially if conditions are right. The 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. Never leave a burn unattended.
If you see smoke or flame in the forest please call 310-FIRE (3473).
- 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.
SMOKE AND INVERSIONS
An inversion happens when cold air is trapped near the ground by warmer air. The cool air near the surface cannot escape upwards and this creates a layer in which smoke from winter burning is trapped along the ground surface as it cannot mix out and rise.
This can be dangerous when smoke from winter burning drifts onto nearby highways. Try to avoid burning when an inversion is in place. Put out smoke warning signs on roadways near your burn and always check the forecasts.
Wildfires that start in the winter can be rare but they do happen. If conditions are dry into the fall with a lack of precipitation the vegetation underneath the minimal snow coverage is more susceptible to fire. If the lack of precipitation continues into the spring holdover fires will be likely this upcoming fire season. Holdover fires are fires that haven't been properly extinguished and have burned deep into the ground. These fires can surface again when conditions are right in the spring and start larger wildfires.
FIRESMART
Wildfire Community Preparedness Day is a national campaign that encourages citizens to take actions that increase their home, neighbourhood and community’s resilience to wildfire.
Residents of all ages all over the country are encouraged to come together at any time from May to October to host events and work on projects that raise awareness of wildfire risk and increase their resilience to it.
To learn more, visit their website by clicking here. Deadline to apply: January 31, 2024.
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
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
Social Media:
Alberta Wildfire App for Apple or Android.
Alberta Fire Bans App for Apple or Android.