Lac La Biche Forest Area Wildfire Update - July 25, 2024 (8:00 p.m.)

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

A fire ban 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 174 wildfires in the Lac La Biche Forest Area burning a total of 20,029 hectares (ha).

There are currently 38 active wildfires in the Lac La Biche Forest Area. Of those, 16 are out of control, 14 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, LWF168 and LWF175.

A new Ontario Incident Management Team (IMT) transitioned with an outgoing IMT from Ontario on the afternoon of July 25 and is now committed to managing personnel and resources assigned to the Kettle River Complex of wildfires.

Moderate to heavy rainfall is forecasted over Thursday night (15-20mm), with rainfall continuing into Friday with the potential for an additional 10-20mm as a significant weather system tracks north and east of the complex. Rain is expected to end Saturday morning. Winds will shift to the west-northwest around 0900 Friday morning at 20-25 km/h with gusts up to 50 km/h.

As of 8 a.m. July 25th, The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) has rescinded it's issued an evacuation alert for the hamlet of Janvier.

Alberta transportation has reopened highway 881. Visit 511 Alberta for the most up-to-date information on highway closures.

A significant low on Friday could bring 30-60mm of precipitation to the complex with rain ending Saturday morning. Winds will shift to the west-northwest around 0900 hrs Friday morning with gusts up to 50 km/h.

LWF136 – The status of this wildfire has changed to BEING HELD. The fire remains located approximately 12 km northwest of the community of Janvier at a size of 765 ha. Resources committed to this wildfire include eight pieces of heavy equipment, 63 wildland firefighters and two task force leaders. Construction of the guard has been completed, and today ground crews continued to establish the remaining hoselines on the dozer guard to the south. Helicopters are available to support ground crews and heavy equipment if weather or visibility conditions permit.

LWF164 – The status of this wildfire is OUT OF CONTROL, and it is located approximately 12km northeast of Conklin and south of Highway 881. This is approximately 1400 ha. There are six pieces heavy equipment and six wildland firefighters assigned to this wildfire.

Firefighters will continue to establish and consolidate hoselines on the dozer guard north of the highway and will establish a relay tank. Heavy equipment will work to establish a dozer guard along the west side of the fire. The area of highway impacted by fire has since been contained.

LWF141 – The status of this wildfire is UNDER CONTROL, and it is located about 3km northwest of Chard. This wildfire is approximately 36 ha. Today a dozer group will be establishing a dozer guard on the east flank of the fire.

LWF152 - The status of this wildfire is OUT OF CONTROL, and it is located approximately 22km northeast of Conklin and 10km southeast of Highway 881. It is currently 475 ha. This wildfire is in close proximity (10 km radius) to industrial facilities. This wildfire is being monitored for growth and fire activity.

LWF159 – The status of this wildfire is OUT OF CONTROL, and it is located in Dillon River Wildland Provincial Park about 12km east of Winefred Lake No. 194B. This wildfire is approximately 4,432 ha.

LWF165 - (Lac La Biche Forest Area) -This fire is now being managed by the Algar Lake Complex (since July 23). It is classified as out of control and is currently estimated at 1,330 hectares.

There are two Firetack crews, two Helitack crews, an 11 person heavy equipment team, five pieces of heavy equipment and two helicopters

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One the Alberta Firetack crews assigned to LWF165 on the Algar Lake Complex. They continued to make good progress on the portion of the fire located on the east side of highway 63 yesterday. (End of shift - July 23, 2024).

LWF165 started on July 17. It is located 20 km south of Crow Lake.

A high of 21 degrees Celsius is expected at Algar Lake Complex today, as temperatures dip to below seasonal values with rain falling steadily since early morning. Thursday’s low relative humidity values aren’t expected to dip below 70 per cent. Winds are expected to be north to northwesterly at 10-15 km/h. A total of 10-20 mm of rain is anticipated, with the possibility of thunderstorms this afternoon.

LWF165 started on July 17. It is located 20 km south of Crow Lake.

Heavy equipment operators have completed containment lines around the portion of LWF165 located on the west side of Highway 63. They have moved over to the portion of the fire located on the east side of the highway along the southern flank, where they will continue to establish containment lines, working eastward away from Highway 63.

Firefighters will resume working on establishing containment lines today on the west side of Highway 63, both on the north and the south edges, once weather conditions permit.

Given the forecasted conditions, observed fire behaviour, and the work accomplished so far, there are no immediate concerns for further travel disruptions to the highway at this time.

For up to date information about road conditions, visit 511 Alberta.

Infrared scans that had been planned for both MWF086 and LWF165 last Wednesday evening were not completed due to unfavorable weather conditions.

There are currently 16 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.

LWF175- This wildfire was detected on July 24. It's classified as out of control at 117 ha.

LWF173- This wildfire was detected on July 23. It is classified as out of control at 6 ha. There is currently one helitack crew on this fire. We are conducting early morning tanker operations weather permitting.

LWF171 - This wildfire was detected on July 22. It is classified as being held at 34 ha. Crews will continue to monitor this fire.

LWF169 - This wildfire was detected on July 21. It is classified as out of control at 217 ha. This fire is located 6 km east of industry facility. We have had some bucketing suppression, however, visibility is limited. There has been minimal growth on this fire today.

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 1,290 ha. This wildfire is located within the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range.

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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