FIRE BAN NOW IN EFFECT - NO FIRES PERMITTED - CAUTION ADVISED
Thanks to the recent rainfall, the fire hazard dropped to MODERATE, but is beginning to climb. No rain has been forecasted for the next week and the hazard levels are expected to worsen.
THE PROVINCIAL FIRE BAN remains in place for the ENTIRE Forest Protection Area of Alberta and all counties, municipal districts and special areas such as provincial parks and recreation areas.
The fire ban does not apply to cities, towns,
villages or summer villages or federal lands such as national parks, but many municipalities have initiated a fire ban.
All fires are now prohibited. The onlyexception is contained fires fuelled by liquid or gas used for cooking or heating (ie barbeques – no briquettes). Fireworks are also covered under the fire ban.
Any existing fires must be extinguished immediately.
The fire ban is in place as a result of the fire hazard across the province and wildfire activity in central and northern Alberta. Every precaution needs to be taken to ensure no new preventable fires are started in the coming days that will put additional strain on the province's firefighting resources.
Those who choose who contravene the ban can be fined up to $5,000 under the Forest and Prairie Protection act, and can also be held liable for the costs of putting out a fire they start.
Most municipalities in the area also have firebans, restrictions or advisories in place. For more information on these and other advisories, restrictions and fire bans in the province, please visithttp://
This Ministerial Order came into effect at 4:30 pm on the 5th day of May, 2016.
Evacuations and Closures
Clearhills County has issued an evacuation preparedness alert for areas north of Highway 64 and west of secondary Highway 726 in Clear Hills County.
A number of evacuations are in effect across the province today. Please visit www.emergencyalert.alberta.ca for a listing of all evacuations currently in effect in Alberta. Sign up for the free emergency alert app to get up to the minute alerts and updates on evacuations and other emergencies in the province pushed to your device.For information on how you can prepare yourself for the event that an evacuation is necessary, visit www.aema.alberta.ca/72-hour-emergency-kit.
Ole's Lake Provincial Recreation Area and Running Lake Provincial Recreation Area will remain closed until further notice.
Safety Concerns
Drone and UAV Use
There have been a number of reports of UAV/drones flying over the fire in the Clearhills area, on both sides of the border. Air operations have had to be grounded as a result.
When you fly a drone or UAV over or near an Alberta wildfire, you’re breaking the law and endangering firefighting personnel and may cause firefighting operations to stop.
Before you fly your drone or UAV, make sure you understand the rules that apply and follow them. Not doing so could cost you up to $25,000 in fines.
For more information, please visit:tc.gc.ca/SafetyFirst
Wildfire Preparation
Firefighters, heavy equipment, aircraft and support resources have all been strategically placed throughout the Peace River Forest Area in preparation for any new wildfire starts. Please call 310-FIRE to report wildfires as soon as possible so that these resources can be dispatched expediently.
Active wildfires in the area
There have been no new wildfires in the Peace River Forest Area yet today (current at 5 pm).
WILDFIRES OF NOTE IN THE AREA:
ABC001 (BC Wildfire # G80068) A wildfire continues to burn west of the Clearhills area on both sides of the BC/Alberta border. Smoke from this fire will be visible from a significant distance away for the foreseeable future.
The wildfire is being continuously monitored by personnel in a helicopter. Our first priority is public safety. If an evacuation becomes necessary, those affected will be notified by the proper authorities immediately.
We have been working with the BC Forest Service to action this wildfire. They are working on controlling the fire on the BC side of the border and our efforts will be focussed on the Alberta side. Firefighters, heavy equipment and helicopters continued to work on controlling this fire today. Over kms of dozer guard has been built on this fire. The fire on the Alberta side of the border is now 16,773 hectares. ABC001 map
Given the recent rainfall, little to no fire growth is expected for the next couple of days. Firefighters are working to make the most of that reprieve and make as much progress as possible. Temperatures are beginning to climb once again and with no rain in the forecast for the next week, fire behavior will increase throughout the week.
For updates on the BC side, please continue to visit the BC wildfire website.
UPDATES ON OTHER WILDFIRES: (changes since last update in bold)
(1 ha is 100 metres by 100 metres or approximately the size of 2 football fields)
PMD 001 is located just west of Whitelaw and is now under control at approximately 250 hectares in size. The fire has been contained and is not expected to spread beyond the current boundaries.
PWF 008 is under control at 12.3 hectares southwest of Dixonville.
PWF 011 has been turned over at 1.00 hectares east of Notikewin Provincial Park.
PWF 013 is located just southeast of the Figure 8 Lake Provincial Recreation Area and has been extinguished at 99.4 hectares in size.
PWF 022 has been extinguished at 1.40 hectares north of the Weberville area.
PWF 024 is now under control at 74 hectares in size west of the Dixonville area (north of the Smith Mills road). Firefighters, aircraft and heavy equipment continue to work towards keeping this fire under control.
PWF 031 has been extinguished at 21.8 hectares in size in the Paddle Prairie Area.
PWF 033 has been extinguished at 2.37 hectares in size in the Paddle Prairie Area.
Smoke concerns
Smoke is expected to drift into the area for the unforseeable future. If the smoke is bothering you, please consider staying indoors as much as possible. If you are having difficulties breathing, please call the Healthlink line or visit your local hospital. Please check the smoke forecast daily for expected smoke patterns.
OHV use
A temporary province wide restriction on off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreational use on public lands and provincial parks has been issued. The OHV restriction will be in place until further notice. It applies to recreational use on public lands, including designated OHV trails, only. It will not apply to agriculture, public safety or commercial/industrial users who operate OHVs for farming, enforcement or business purposes. For more information visit the Alberta Environment and Parks website.
Double check your brush piles
With the fire ban now in place, ALL burning, including brush piles must be immediately and completely extinguished. When checking your brushpiles, spread around any remaining debris so you can probe the area for hotspots. Use your bare hand to feel for heat over the ash piles. If you see smoke or feel any heat, the fire is still burning beneath the surface. Douse any remaining hot spots with water and stir up the ashes. A fire is not completely extinguished until there is absolutely no heat emanating from the ashes.
Fire permits suspended
With the fireban now in place, ALL fire permits are suspended and ALL burning must be immediately and completely extinguished. No new fire permits will be issued until further notice.
For more information
To receive these updates:
Bookmark the Peace River Wildfire Update and check for updates anytime, or subscribe to have it emailed to you. You can also download our app, available for Apple and Android devices.
You can also find us onFacebook,Twitter orYoutube or visit www.wildfire.alberta.ca
Or contact:
Crystal Burrows - Wildfire Information Officer
(780) 618-6215
crystal.burrows@gov.ab.ca
Report Wildfires 310-FIRE