The wildfire hazard is EXTREME.
There is a province-wide FIRE BAN in place as well as a province-wide OHV Restriction. This means no campfires or burning of any type, and off-terrain vehicle use is restricted.
The OHV Restriction applies to recreational use on public lands, including designated OHV trails. The restriction does not apply to agriculture, public safety or commercial/industrial users who operate OHVs for farming, enforcement or business purposes. The OHV restriction does not apply to the use of an OHV by Indigenous peoples when exercising a right recognized and affirmed under Part II of the Constitution Act, 1982 or a right under section 12 of the Natural Resources Transfer Agreement.
The wildfire danger for tomorrow is being driven by warm temperatures of 26 degrees, low humidity of 15%, and winds at SW25 gusting to 40 km/hr. A front is expected to cross the area on Sunday bringing even stronger and gusty winds. There is no significant precipitation in the forecast for the area.
We had a bit of a reprieve today, with no new fires in the Lac La Biche area. There was one new fire near in the Fort Mc Murray area, but this fire burned into the existing fire from the previous day. The winds tonight are pushing smoke from the Fort Mc Murray city fire as far south as Janvier. Southwest winds tomorrow should push this smoke back northeast.
We have 27 crews, 28 helicopters, airtankers, seven dozer units and various other pieces of heavy equipment on hand across the area to action any new fires. We have six fires in the area and they are all under control. We've had 71 wildfires so far this season.
The photo below shows the airtankers at the Lac La Biche airtanker base, ready for action early this morning.
Thanks for doing your part to prevent wildfire by not having any campfires and not using your quads and OHVs this weekend.
If you have questions, please call:
Leslie Lozinski
Forest Information Officer
780-623-9758