Lac La Biche Forest Area Wildfire Update

The wildfire danger in the Lac La Biche forest area is now LOW. Although the 2024 wildfire season has come to an end wildfires can still start in cooler conditions.

Remember to always extinguish your campfire when you're out hunting or using an OHV when you are done with it.

Report wildfires immediately by calling 310-FIRE(3473).

LAC LA BICHE WILDFIRE UPDATE

Since January 1, 2024, there have been 202 wildfires in the Lac La Biche Forest Area burning an estimated total of 23,929 hectares (ha).

There are currently four active wildfires in the Lac La Biche Forest Area. All four wildfires are now labelled as UNDER CONTROL.

View active wildfires, their locations and stats on the interactive map on our Wildfire Status page.

WILDLAND FIREFIGHTER RECRUITMENT

We want wildland firefighters to join our team for the 2025 wildfire season! Applications are now live on our website.

If you're interested in being a crew member please visit the crew member posting. If being a crew leader/sub-leader interests you please visit the crew leader/sub-leader posting.

The closing date for crew members is November 30 and the crew leaders/subleader applications will remain open until suitable candidates are found.

Having local members from the community on our team is very valuable. Knowledge of the terrain, local communities, and backcountry areas are an asset for any candidate interested in applying.

For more information visit the recruitment page on our website.

CAMPFIRES & HUNTING SEASON

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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

A campfire is an essential part of the hunting experience, but it should be used with caution. Make sure that your campfires are built in a safe area, away from flammable materials such as grass, twigs, and leaves. Always attend to your campfires, keep them small, and keep them safe.

FIRE PERMITS ARE NO LONGER REQUIRED

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Fire permits are no longer required until March 1 but please keep safe winter burning practices in mind. These practices include:

Carefully select your burn site and do not burn until you have good snow cover in the area.
Check weather conditions and refrain from burning when an inversion is in place or is forecasted.
Actively manage burn projects to reduce total burning time.
Burn debris in stages so that you can adapt to changing weather conditions and reduce smoke.
Ensure you have the right tools, water and equipment on hand to keep the burn under control.
Consult your local municipality on how to safely undertake larger winter burning projects near communities or roads.

Due to the lack of snow in the Whitecourt Forest Area any burning on the landscape has the potential to dig deep into the ground creating holdover fires. Holdover fires are fires that are not properly extinguished and will burn underground. When conditions are right these fires can start up again in the spring creating a wildfire. We ask that you kindly wait to start any winter burning until there is at least 15 cm of snow on the ground.

Find more information on winter burning.

GET YOUR HARVEST PERMITS

Personal Use Forest Products Permits are for small-scale personal use only (no resale) for Christmas trees, firewood or transplants. These free permits are available online or in person at your nearest forestry office. PUFPPs authorize Albertans to cut and remove timber from designated Crown land only. The area-specific PUFPP document must be with you at all times while cutting or transporting trees from Crown land. In one 30-day period, a person can hold up to 4 permits – up to one permit each for: firewood, Christmas trees, roundwood and transplants.

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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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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: