A wildfire can start at anytime of year especially if conditions are right. Please check your winter burn sites to ensure your winter project is properly extinguished as fire season is right around the corner.
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 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.
CHECK YOUR WINTER BURNS
Wildfire season is approaching and we ask that everyone revisit their burn site to ensure their winter burning project is properly extinguished. Due to dry conditions in the fall and a lack of precipitation this winter holdover fires are likely. These holdover fires are caused by a lack of moisture in the ground and can burn deep into the ground and re-emerge in the spring when conditions are right.
FIRESMART
Is your property ready for wildfire season? There are a few things to get you started as we head into spring.
- prune trees from the bottom up (approx. two meters from the ground) and trim branches that are touching structures
- clean-out your gutters on your home and garage
- cut your grass often and keep it under ten centimeters
- ensure any vegetation is cut or removed under your deck as embers can fall in between wooden boards and dry grass can ignite
For more FireSmart tips to get you started you can visit the FireSmart Begins at Home Guide.
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.