PEACE RIVER FOREST AREA / WILDFIRE SITUATION
There are currently two fires classified as BEING HELD in the Peace River Forest Area. Since January 1, there have been 96 wildfires in the Peace River Forest Area, which have burned approximately 15,877 hectares.
The fire danger for most of the Boreal region and eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains is moderate to low except for portions of the High Level, Fort McMurray, and Lac La Biche Forest Areas where the fire danger is high to very high. Fire danger is also high to very high in portions of the Rocky Mountain House and Calgary Forest Areas. The fire danger remains extreme in much of the agricultural zone.
Since January 1, there have been 1,105 wildfires recorded in the Forest Protection Area that have burned 703,761 (ha). Last year, on this date, there were 984 wildfires that had burned 2,204,517 ha across the province.
CLASSIFICATIONS | Learn more about wildfire classifications.
LOCATIONS | View this wildfire on our interactive map by following the active wildfire link.
FALL FEATURE: COMBINE HARVESTERS
As we transition into the harvest season here in Peace Country, the combine harvester becomes a familiar sight. These behemoth machines are built to separate seeds from dry crop plants and discard the remaining material.
It is well known among farmers and rural residents that the combine is the machine on the farm most at-risk of fire. The reason for this is not the machine itself, but rather the tinder-dry material that the combine works with and the heat caused by long hours of continuous operation.
Mitigating fire risk on the combine can be divided into three categories:
✅Prevention:
✅Monitoring:
✅Suppression:
Tractors, combines, swathers, balers, and other heavy machinery on the farm can all cause wildfires. Prevention is the best tool to protect people, homes, landscapes, and livelihoods.
To learn more about reducing the risk of wildfire on the farm, download the FireSmart Farm and Acreage Guide.
From all of us here at Peace River Forestry, we wish local farmers and their families a safe and bountiful harvest season.
CONTACT:
Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
HELPFUL LINKS