Peace River Area Update

Peace River Forest Area Update - May 24, 2019

Posted on Thu, May 23, 2019

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The wildfire danger is EXTREME in the Peace River Forest Area.  RED FLAG WEATHER WATCH remains in effect.

There was minimal growth on the west side of Fire today. See more details below.

Portions of the Chin Road remains closed from 9 am to midnight. Anyone entering the area will have to check in and out with staff responsible for the closure. Be aware of smoke and visibility issues and be prepared to exit and stay to the west if the fire picks up and the road is inaccessible for exit. We ask individuals to restrict travel on the road to essential trips only. 

We are experiencing extreme wildfire weather.  The forest area is extremely dry.  Any fires that start will spread quickly and be very difficult to contain.

We remain under a RED FLAG WEATHER WATCH.  This means a weather event tomorrow could pose a critical degree of danger to fireline personnel and the public. Tomorrow’s deep crossover position (temp higher than humidity) and winds mean fire behavior will be drastically impacted by the weather. There is potential for significant growth on the fire tomorrow. 

FIRE BAN and QUAD RESTRICTION IN EFFECT

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Due to extreme wildfire danger from dry grass and weather indicators, a Fire Ban and Quad Restriction is now in effect for the Peace River Forest Area and most of northern Alberta.  Visit albertafirebans.ca for more information.

Existing fire permits are suspended until further notice. 

Prohibited

  • All open fires including campfires in campgrounds, backcountry and random camping areas and backyard fire pits.
  • Charcoal briquettes, turkey fryers and tiki torches.
  • Fireworks and exploding targets.
  • The use of off-highway vehicles for recreational use on all public lands. 

Allowed

  • Portable propane fire pits that are CSA approved or UL certified.
  • Gas or propane stoves and barbecues that are CSA approved or UL certified and are designed for cooking or heating.
  • Catalytic or infrared-style heaters.
  • OHVs for industrial use, agricultural use, and traditional use by Indigenous peoples, as well as use on private lands. 

The Fire Ban and Off-Highway Vehicle Restriction will remain in effect until conditions improve. 

To view a map of the Fire Ban/OHV Restriction visit www.albertafirebans.ca

Many nearby municipalities have advisories, restrictions or firebans in place.  Please check www.albertafirebans.ca for more information.

 

WILDFIRE UPDATE

There have been 68 wildfires in the Peace River Forest Area this fire season, and each of these wildfires has now been extinguished with the exception of those below:

WILDFIRES OF NOTE: (update as of 1800 hours Thursday)

Battle Complex (Notikewin and Battle River wildfires):

Current size: 18,561 hectares (ha)

The photos below:

(left) A helicopter slings supplies to wildfire crews working the line on PWF 052.

(Right) Two dozers head for the fire to assist in efforts to build more fire break as part of ongoing containment activities on PWF 052.  

slinging 23 maydozers 23 may

 

  • PWF 052 remains out of control in the Notikewin Area. 
    • This fire is located roughly 10 kilometers northwest of the town of Manning. 
    • For a second straight day thick smoke delayed fire activity until early afternoon.
    • The fire was active through the later portion of the day however resulting in some new growth over the past 24 hours. 
    • The fire moved south through grass towards the Stowe Road spotting across the road late in the afternoon. Helicopter bucketing operations were ongoing in the area into the evening.
    • Growth on the west side of the fire has the edge currently about 4 km from the Miekyl facility and Civeo camp.
    • Smoke prevented crews from completing any work on the south side of the fire. Activity focused on cooling the edges using hand tools, pumps and hose along the northeast and northwest corners of the fire.
    • Heavy equipment operators worked day and night building new fire breaks on the southwest corner and along the east side.
    • Ignition efforts for planned prescribed burns were completed successfully. Additional burning near the Chin Road is planned, should conditions enable the work to proceed.
    • The forecast for Friday is for a high of 20 degrees Celsius with a relative humidity of 25 per cent and winds continuing north-to-northeast at 15-25 kilometers per hour (kph).
    • Friday will be the first day in a while where crossover conditions (present when relative humidity falls below the daily temperature); a welcome change for crews on the fire.
    • Sunday and Monday could be critical days with temperatures forecast at 24 degrees Celsius with relative humidity at 15 per cent and winds from the southwest at 20-30 kph.
    • Tuesday is shaping up as another hot, dry day with winds out of the southeast.
    • Currently there are more than 250 firefighters, 21 helicopters, 3 airtanker groups, 14 dozer groups and various heavy equipment assigned to this fire.
    • Chin Road is closed from 9 am to midnight. From midnight to 9 a.m. the fire area can be accessed through the roadblocks at km 20 and km 80. 
    • If you are travelling in the area of the Chin Road, be prepared for smoky conditions, poor visibility and risk from fire.  Understand that you may not be able to exit to the east, instead exiting to the west and holding until safe to travel east.
  • PWF 054 remains being held at 74 hectares in size in the Battle River area.  This fire is on patrol status.

Tomorrow is a RED FLAG WATCH day.  This means a weather event tomorrow is expected that could pose a critical degree of danger to fireline personnel and the public. Tomorrow’s deep crossover position (temp higher than humidity) and winds mean fire behavior will be drastically impacted by the weather. 

Tomorrow is going to be another significant day for the Battle Complex. Safety of our firefighters and the public is of paramount importance. When and if the head of the fire becomes too intense to work on, we will redirect crews and equipment to safer areas, while we continue to work on areas of the fire that need strengthening in anticipation of west winds next weekend.

Battle Complex Map 

Map 23 May 19

For updates on efforts being taken by municipal fire fighters to provide structural protection and emergency preparedness information, please visit the County of Northern Lights website.

 OTHER WILDFIRES IN THE AREA:

  • PWF 043 is extinguished.
  • PWF 062 is extinguished.
  • PWF 064 has been turned over to the landowner.
  • PWF 066 has been turned over to the landowner.

For your safety and the safety of the numerous firefighters working to contain these wildfires, please stay out of the area if you do not need to be there.

For information on the wildfire situation across the province of Alberta, visit: wildfire.alberta.ca.

 

FIRE PERMITS SUSPENDED

 Fire permits have been suspended, effective 1800 hours, May 16.  

Call the Peace River Forest Area office at 780-624-6190 if you have any questions about fire permits.

 

DO YOUR PART TO PREVENT WILDFIRES

Please respect the fire ban and quad restriction currently in effect.  

   

FIRESMART

You can protect your home from wildfire

Protecting your home from wildfire starts with simple actions. Whether you are doing regular yard maintenance or making large scale changes during renovations or landscaping, you can make choices that will help protect your home from wildfire.

Learn more at firesmartcanada.ca.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

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Or contact:

Derrick Forsythe 

Wildfire Information Officer

(780) 288-7932

derrick.forsythe@gov.ab.ca