Lac La Biche Forest Area Wildfire Update - July 22, 2024 (8:30 p.m.)

Visit AB 511 for up-to-date information on road closures in the forest area.

A fire ban is remains in effect for the Lac La Biche Forest Area.

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

LAC LA BICHE WILDFIRE UPDATE

The wildfire danger in the Lac La Biche forest area is now EXTREME. This means that the forest fuels are extremely dry and pose a very serious fire risk. Fast-spreading, high-intensity fires are likely, which are very difficult to control.

Since January 1, 2024, there have been 170 wildfires in the Lac La Biche Forest Area burning a total of 8,208.32 hectares (ha).

There are currently 40 active wildfires in the Lac La Biche Forest Area. Of those, 18 are out of control, 15 are being held and eight are under control.

To view active wildfires on a map, visit Alberta Wildfire Status.

Kettle River Complex (LCX001) | LWF136, LWF164 and LWF152

The Kettle River Complex (LCX001) includes 17 wildfires: LWF101, LWF123, LWF124, LWF126, LWF136, LWF139, LWF140, LWF141, LWF142, LWF143, LWF152, LWF155, LWF156, LWF159, LWF162, LWF164 and LWF168. An Incident Management Team (IMT) is committed to this complex and is now responsible for the personnel and resources assigned to its wildfires.

There are 138 firefighters and support personnel, seven helicopters and 14 pieces of heavy equipment assigned to the wildfire complex.

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) has issued an evacuation alert for the hamlet of Janvier.

Alberta transportation has temporarily closed Highway 881 due to this wildfire. Visit 511 Alberta for the most up-to-date information on highway closures.

An organized cold front will likely move across the fire complex tomorrow afternoon/evening with winds shifting from southeast to southwest-west 15-20 km/h around 4-5 p.m. then shifting again around 7 p.m. to W-NW 15-20 km/hr. Cooler and humid conditions will return to the fire area by Wednesday with the possibility of light to moderate rain and/showers bringing 5-10 mm of precipitation.

LWF136 – The status of this wildfire is OUT OF CONTROL, and it is located approximately 15 km northwest of the community of Janvier. It is currently estimated at 500 ha in size. Fire Crews observed fire activity along the west side of the fire. Today, heavy equipment continued to build containment line using dozers. Firefighters continued to reinforced the containment lines using water pumps and hose.

LWF164 – This wildfire was detected July 17. It is located approximately 12km northeast of Conklin along Highway 881. It is classified as OUT OF CONTROL at 936 ha. The fire did not cross the MEG Energy egress, however, it has now crossed highway 881 causing road closures in both directions.

LWF152 - This wildfire was detected July 16. It is classified as OUT OF CONTROL at 406 ha. There are industrial facilities within a 10 km radius to the wildfires.

There are currently 18 wildfires burning out of control in the Lac La Biche Forest Area. View other active wildfires, their locations and stats on the interactive map on our Wildfire Status page.

LWF123 - This wildfire was detected July 11. It is classified as out of control at 531 hectares (ha). This wildfire is located in north east corner of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. This fire is under investigation.

LWF147 - This wildfire was detected July 16. It is classified as out of control at 6,569 ha. The fire is located approximately 16 km northeast of Heart Lake in the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range. This fire is under investigation.

LWF154 - This wildfire was detected July 16. It is classified as out of control at 1,200 ha. This wildfire is located within the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range.

LWF159 - This wildfire was detected July 16. It is classified as out of control at 2,000 ha. This wildfire is located in the Dillion Lake Provincial Park and is 20 km north of Winefred Lake.

LWF165 - This wildfire was detected July 17. It is currently classified as out of control at 128 ha. It is located approximately 23 km south of Crow Lake and 8 km east of highway 63.

Alberta transportation may temporarily close Highway 63 due this wildfire. Visit 511 Alberta for the most up-to-date information on highway closures.

LWF169 - This wildfire was detected on July 21. It is classified as out of control at 146 ha. This fire is located 6 km east of industry facility. We have had some bucketing suppression, however, visibility is limited.

LWF171 - This wildfire was detected on July 22. It is classified as out of control at 60 ha. There are several industrial facilities and fishing / camping lodges with in a 10 - 20 KM radius. The hamlet of Conklin is 30 KM, northwest of this wildfire.

Fire Ban banner

A fire ban is in effect as of July 10 in the entire Forest Protection Area of Alberta, including the Lac La Biche Forest Area, due to hot and dry conditions.

Cities, towns, villages and summer villages, as well as federal lands (such as national parks), are exempt from this ban. These jurisdictions have the authority to issue their own bans and may have complementary bans in place.

Visit Alberta Fire Bans to see if a fire ban or restriction is in place in your area.

Under this fire ban:

All fire permits are suspended or cancelled.
No new fire permits will be issued.
Some allowances can be made for essential agricultural and industrial burning, if approved by a forest officer.

Prohibited:

All outdoor wood fires, including wood campfires on public land, private land, designated campgrounds, and backyard firepits
Barbeque charcoal briquettes
Fireworks and exploding targets

Allowed:

Propane/ natural gas-powered appliances
Indoor wood fires inside a structure (such as a facility, building, tent or RV) and contained within a device with a chimney and spark arrestor
Open flame oil devices (such as deep fryers and tiki torches). All devices must be CSA approved and used per manufacturer’s standards.

If you see a wildfire, report it immediately by calling 310-FIRE.

The fire ban will remain in effect until conditions improve.

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DRONES are not allowed to be flown within 5 nautical miles (or 9.3 kilometers) of a wildfire.

If you fly a drone within this distance of a wildfire, it immediately halts firefighting operations because it is not safe to be flying with drones in the air. The penalty for interfering with wildfire control operations can land you a court appearance, go to the Government of Alberta website.
For more information from Transport Canada about drones near wildfires, visit Transport Canada's website.

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FIRESMART

Your actions today can minimize wildfire damage to your home and property tomorrow. Visit FireSmart Alberta to learn how taking proactive FireSmart measures around your house and yard can increase your property's resistance to wildfire.

Download the Farm and Acreage Guide to Reducing the Risk From Wildfire for additional information.

WILDFIRE INFORMATION

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Download the AB Wildfire Status app, and select the "i" at the bottom to see the most recent update. Sign up to be notified when a new update is published.

Visit Alberta Wildfire for more information on the current wildfire situation.

Visit Alberta Fire Bans to see if there are any fire advisories, fire restrictions or fire bans in effect in your area.

For more information, please contact:

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