Lac La Biche Forest Area Wildfire Update

Alberta Wildfire Mourns the loss of a fellow Fire Fighter

Alberta Wildfire is mourning the loss of a crew member who was fatally injured on August 3rd, while responding to the wildfire in Jasper. While we know that fighting wildfire can be a dangerous profession, it does not make a loss like this any less painful. Our hearts are with his family, friends and colleagues.

A procession was held with firefighters, emergency responders and contractors lining this route in Hinton.(Aug 4)

The fire ban has been lifted in the Lac La Biche Forest Area.

Alberta Wildfire would like to remind anyone heading out to our forested areas to be responsible this long weekend.

Many areas of the province are under fire advisories, restrictions, and bans. Make sure to check the area you are going to ensure fires are permitted and be prepared if they are not. Propane fire pits are still allowed during a fire ban but wood burning fires are not.

The wildfire danger is growing in the province so be on high alert. If you are having a campfire, never leave it unattended and ensure it is fully extinguished before you leave.

To report wildfires in the province’s forested areas, call 310-FIRE.

LAC LA BICHE WILDFIRE UPDATE

The wildfire danger in the Lac La Biche forest area is now LOW.

Since January 1, 2024, there have been 179 wildfires in the Lac La Biche Forest Area burning a total of 20,371 hectares (ha). There are currently 15 active wildfires in the Lac La Biche Forest Area. Of those, four are out of control, seven are being held and four are under control.

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

Kettle River Complex (LCX001) |LWF164 and LWF152

The Kettle River Complex (LCX001) includes 12 wildfires: LWF123, LWF126, LWF136, LWF141, LWF147, LWF152, LWF154, LWF156, LWF159, LWF164, LWF169 and LWF175. An Ontario Incident Management Team (IMT) is committed to managing personnel and resources assigned to the Kettle River Complex of wildfires.

The Incident Management Team at the Kettle River Complex assumes command of an additional fire in the Lac La Biche Forest Area today:

LWF169 is classified as UNDER CONTROL at 217 ha. The fire is located approximately 37km east of Crow Lake.

Infrared scanning continues on fires in the complex, yielding hotspot targets for firefighters to extinguish.

A weather system to the northwest may produce some clouds and showers throughout the day. Relative humidity values are expected to remain in the 40 per cent range with moderate winds from the north, growing gusty this afternoon. All complex fires have shown minimal fire behaviour over the past few days.

An Australian firefighter seen from the air while at work on LWF152.

LWF136 – The status of this wildfire is BEING HELD. Fire behaviour on LWF-136 was reported as minimal near the fire’s perimeter yesterday. The fire remains located approximately 12 km northwest of the community of Janvier it is currently 765 ha. Resources committed to this wildfire include 11 pieces of equipment, 50 wildland firefighter. Crews are targeting hotspots identified in infrared scanning. Bucketing helicopters will support ground crews in extinguishing hotspots.

LWF152 – The status of this 474 ha wildfire is UNDER CONTROL, and it is located approximately 22km northeast of Conklin and 10km southeast of Highway 881. A total of 40 wildland firefighters, a division supervisor and one piece of equipment are assigned to LWF152. This wildfire is in close proximity (10 km radius) to industrial facilities. Firefighting crews are using helicopter buckets and water trucks to seek out hot spots identified by infrared scans.

LWF159 – The status of this wildfire is OUT OF CONTROL, and it is located in Dillon River Wildland Provincial Park about 12 km east of Winefred Lake No. 194B. This wildfire is approximately 4,294 ha.

LWF175 – The status of the wildfire is OUT OF CONTROL. This fire is approximately 125 ha in size and located in Dillon River Wildland Provincial Park, approximately 12 km east of Winefred Lake. Crews flew over the fire area on July 26, to monitor for growth and fire activity.

Dawn breaks over a Hagglunds. These tracked vehicles are important tools to move firefighting crews and equipment, through wet, swampy areas.

FIRE BANS

The fire ban has been lifted in the Lac La Biche Forest Area.

For more information regarding fire bans you can visit Albertafirebans.ca

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CAMPFIRE SAFETY

SOAK IT, STIR IT, AND SOAK IT AGAIN

Let the fire burn down before you plan on putting it out. Spread the embers within the fire pit, then add water or loose dirt, and stir.
Expose any material still burning. Add more water and stir again until you can no longer see smoke or steam. Do not bury your fire as the embers may continue to smolder and can re-emerge as a wildfire.
Repeat until your campfire is cool to the touch.
If your fire is out, you should not be able to feel any heat from the ashes
Alberta wildfire typically sees an increase in human-caused wildfires during long weekends.

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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.

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GET YOUR FREE FIRE PERMIT

All burning within the Forest Protection Area of Alberta requires a fire permit, with the exception of a campfire. You can get your free fire permit by applying online or by contacting the Lac La Biche Office at 780-623-5388.

Please help our staff by planning ahead. As the season gets busy, there may be delays for a forest officer to visit your site. Contact us or submit for your permit online as early as possible to ensure you have your permit for when you need it.

WILDFIRE INFORMATION

Subscribe to forest area updates to receive them in your inbox.

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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