Lac La Biche Area Update

Strong winds are expected for the area with gusts up to 49 km/h out of the south-southeast please use caution when working or recreating outside. 

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

FIRE ADVISORY STILL IN EFFECT 

 

A fire advisory is in effect for the Lac La Biche Forest Area section of the Forest Protection Area due to dry conditions and a lack of precipitation from the fall and winter months.

 

Under this advisory:

· New fire permits will not be issued for non-essential heavy fuel burning such as machine-piled brush piles and windrows.

· Permits will be issued on a case-by-case basis.

 

Prohibited:

· Any burning without a valid fire permit, other than a campfire, is prohibited.

Allowed:

· Safe wood campfires *

· Backyard fire pits

· Portable propane fire pits

· Gas or propane stoves and barbecues

· Catalytic or infrared-style heaters

 

*Safe wood campfires - should be within a metal, brick, or rock fire ring. They are required to:

a) be on rock, gravel, sand, or another non-combustible surface that extends at least one metre around the fire;

b) have a responsible person in attendance to keep fire under control at all times and extinguish before leaving;

c) have on hand enough water on site to extinguish the fire. Safe wood campfires on private lands include private land campgrounds and private land recreation areas; and

d) Municipalities, Parks and protected areas may have additional fire safety requirements.

 

Return to winter burn sites to ensure they are completely extinguished. These fires can smoulder underground and flare up into a wildfire when the conditions are right.

---

 

WINDY CONDITIONS 

 

There will be a significant wind event over the next few days. Wind gusts up to 49km/h out of the south-southeast are to be expected for parts of the Lac La Biche Forest Area. We are urging everyone to be extremely vigilant at this time. 

 

Please consider moving any non-essential work that could create sparks such as welding or grinding to another day. If you're using any machinery outside please ensure it is in good working order and shut your machines off throughout use to let the engines cool down. Always have water or fire fighting equipment with you. 

 

Written permission is required from a Forest Officer for any burning in the forest protection area. Please ensure you burn to the conditions on your permit. If the wind is gusting over 15 km/h or increases beyond the limit on your permit, immediately extinguish your fire. 

To monitor windy conditions for the area please visit www.windy.com

Keep in mind that there is a fire advisory still in effect. Please see albertafirebans.ca for more information regarding the status of fire permits.

---

DRY CONDITIONS CONTINUE 

 

There has been a lack of precipitation this winter which has created unusually dry conditions that have started earlier into our fire season than normal. In many open areas there is an accumulation of dry grasses which can easily ignite and will produce high fire behavior if conditions are right. 

 

Firefighters in the area work to eliminate some of these areas where excessive dry fuels are present by hazard reduction burning. This will take away fuels that would have been easily ignitable or created worsening fire behaviour if a wildfire started in the area. 

 

Hazard reduction burning will only continue if conditions are mild. If conditions are not right, the project will be moved to another time. 

 

We can all do our part in preventing human caused wildfires by:

• being aware of any fire ban information in the area, check out albertafirebans.ca
• keeping your off-highway vehicle clear of any debris and stop often to cool down your machine
• being careful when grinding or welding in dry locations and always carry fire fighting equipment with you (fire extinguisher and hand tools)
• properly extinguishing your campfire by soaking it, stirring it and soaking it again
• making sure your farming equipment is in good working order in order to reduce sparks 

For more information on safe burning practices please click here.

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

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:

Join the conversation on