Lac La Biche Forest Area Wildfire Update

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

When the fire danger level is very high: Fire is expected to start easily and could challenge suppression efforts.

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

LAC LA BICHE WILDFIRE UPDATE

Since January 1, 2024, there have been 180 wildfires in the Lac La Biche Forest Area burning a total of 20,195 hectares (ha). There are currently 15 active wildfires in the Lac La Biche Forest Area. Of those, four are out of control, four are being held and seven are under control.

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

Kettle River Complex (LCX001) |LWF164, LWF152, LWF147

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.

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

Warm and dry conditions persist across the Kettle River Complex area Monday. Daytime temperatures are forecasted to reach a high of 30 degrees Celsius with relative humidity dropping as low as 20%. Winds today will be out of the southwest-southeast at 15-20 km/h with gusts up to the 30 km/h. Another dry day is expected with no rain in the forecast.

LWF147 – The status of this fire is BEING HELD at 6,434 ha. The fire is located approximately 16 km northeast of Heart Lake in the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range. There are 64 firefighters and personnel assigned to this fire. Helicopters continue to move crews into positions to patrol and extinguish hotspots.

South African firefighters preparing for mobilization to LWF147 and LWF154, August 11, 2024.

WF152 – The status of this 453 ha wildfire is UNDER CONTROL. Located approximately 22 km northeast of Conklin and 10 km southeast of Highway 881, this wildfire is in close proximity (10 km radius) to industrial facilities. The fire continues to be monitored for activity.

LWF154 – The status of this wildfire is BEING HELD at 1,284 ha. A total of 16 firefighters and personnel are assigned to this fire. Crews are establishing helipads around the fire perimeter and extinguishing hotspots to prevent fire spread to the east.

LWF156 – The status of this wildfire is OUT OF CONTROL measuring 384 ha in size. This fire was confirmed on July 16, 2024. This fire is being monitored for growth and activity.

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. This fire is being monitored for growth and activity.

LWF164 – The status of this wildfire is UNDER CONTROL at 1,547 ha in size. The fire is located approximately 12km northeast of Conklin and has shown minimal fire behaviour over the past several days and continues to be monitored for fire activity.

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. This fire is being monitored for growth and activity.

An aerial perspective of LWF154 (August 11). Firefighters continue to patrol the fire and extinguish hotspots.

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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

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Subscribe to Lac La Biche 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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