Lac La Biche Area Update

Lac La Biche Forest Area Wildfire Update - December 19, 2024

Written by Randi-Marie Adams | Dec 19, 2024 5:33:24 PM

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.

If you're out hunting or using an OHV, remember to always extinguish your campfire before leaving the site. Remember to SOAK IT, STIR IT, SOAK IT AGAIN. Repeat this until the fire is cool to the touch.

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

The Lac La Biche Forest Area offices will be closed on December 24th for the holidays. We will reopen on January 2nd with regular business hours. 

The Lac La Biche Forest Area staff wish you and your family a happy holiday season.

LAC LA BICHE WILDFIRE UPDATE 

(A moose walks through a burnt area on the LWF 159 fire located in the Dillon River Wildland Provincial Park about 12 km east of Winefred Lake No. 194B.)
 
Since January 1, 2024, there have been 204 wildfires in the Lac La Biche Forest Area burning an estimated total of 23,929 hectares (ha).
 
There are currently two active wildfires in the Lac La Biche Forest Area. All two wildfires are now labelled as UNDER CONTROL.

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

FIRE PERMITS ARE NO LONGER REQUIRED

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 Lac La Biche 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  (PUFFP) 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.

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.

COMMUNITY PREPARDNESS DAY

Wildfire Community Preparedness Day is a great opportunity to engage your community in FireSmart initiatives and prepare for wildfire risks.

Wildfire Community Preparedness Day gives neighbourhoods and communities the opportunity to receive a $500 award from FireSmart Canada, along with an event kit to help make your event a huge success

Organizing an event can foster awareness and encourage proactive measures to protect your neighborhood. Remember, starting a conversation is the first step to making a significant impact.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity! Apply for your chance to receive $500 to support a FireSmart event or project on your street or within your community. Applications are now open until Jan 31, 2025!

You can find more information about Wildfire Community Preparedness Day here:
https://firesmartcanada.ca/programs/wildfire-community-preparedness-day/

FireSmart Canada has provided a range of resources and a toolkit to help you with your application or plan your event:
https://firesmartcanada.ca/programs/wildfire-community-preparedness-day/wildfire-community-preparedness-day-resources/

WILDFIRE INFORMATION 

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:  

 
Area Information Coordinator
Randi-Marie Adams
Alberta Forestry & Parks | AB Wildfire
Lac La Biche Forest Area 
Cell:780-404-9186
 

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