We ask that everyone who conducted any burning projects this winter return and ensure the piles are fully extinguished. Feel the ashes with your bare hand for any heat and use hand tools and water to ensure that there is no fire burning underneath top soil.
Today winds are out of the southeast at approximately 20 km/h gusting to 40 km/h.
If the wind is gusting over 15 km/h or increases beyond the limit on your permit, immediately extinguish your fire.
If you see smoke or flame in the forest please call 310-FIRE (3473).
FIRE ADVISORY STILL IN EFFECT
A fire advisory remains in effect for the Lac La Biche Forest Area due to the accumulation of dry vegetation, which can easily ignite and will burn quickly if conditions are right.
Human caused wildfires are entirely preventable. Use caution when doing work outside, such as welding or grinding, as it can produce sparks that can start a wildfire. A fire will quickly spread in dry and dead grass. If you’re using your OHV, remember to stop often, cool down your machine and check your hotspots. Grass can get stuck in the hot areas of your OHV, heat up and start a wildfire when it falls to the ground.
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.
LAC LA BICHE WILDFIRE UPDATE
The wildfire danger in the Lac La Biche Forest Area is VERY HIGH. If a wildfire does occur, high-intensity fire is expected and likely to spread to treetops. Fire is expected to start easily and to challenge suppression efforts.
Since January 1 2024, there has been a total of 27 wildfires burning a total of 40 ha in the Lac La Biche Forest Area.
SPRING WILDFIRE AWARENESS
A lack of precipitation this winter has created unusually dry conditions earlier into our fire season than normal. In many open areas there is an accumulation of dry vegetation which can easily ignite and will burn quickly if conditions are right.
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. The ashes should be cold to the touch
- making sure your farming equipment is in good working order in order to reduce sparks
For more safe burning practises please visit https://www.alberta.ca/safe-burning
FIRE PERMITS
If you require a fire permit for any burning, please visit our
online portal to get your free fire permit or you can call your local forestry office in Lac La Biche at 780-623-5388 to get started. Please plan ahead and have the site ready as there may be delays for a forestry staff member to visit your site.
If the wind is gusting over 15 km/h or increases beyond the limit on your permit, immediately extinguish your fire.
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.
FIRESMART
Your actions today can minimize wildfire damage to your home and property tomorrow. Visit the new FireSmart Alberta site to learn how taking proactive FireSmart measures around your house and yard can increase your property's resistance to wildfire.
These small steps can get you started this spring:
- clean and maintain gutters, keep decks and patio's free of debris
- keep grass cut below 10 cm
- plant wildfire resistant vegetation to reduce flammability around your home
- add non-combustible 3 mm screens to external vents (except dryer vents)
- prune trees 2 m from the ground
- move firewood 10 m away from your home
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:
Social Media:
Apps:
Alberta Wildfire App for Apple or Android.
Alberta Fire Bans App for Apple or Android.
