The fire danger in the Peace River Forest Area (PRFA) remains HIGH.

Firefighters will be looking for lightning holdovers this week as a return to high drying conditions are expected with temperatures expected to be 27C with relative humidity of 30 per cent and a possibility of thundershowers. For further information and maps on smoke please go to Smoke Forecast - FireSmoke.ca

A fire restriction is in effect for the PRFA. All outdoor wood fires are banned on public lands, including backcountry and random camping. The use of fireworks and exploding targets are also prohibited. Please visit AlbertaFiresbans.ca for more information. 

To see the forecasted fire danger, click here, updates daily at 3:00 PM

Initial attack crews are put on standby to action any new wildfire starts, especially when the fire danger increases. Visit our Wildfire Dashboard to view active wildfires and their stats.

Wildfire Situation

Since January 1, there have been 74 wildfires in the Peace River Forest Area (PRFA) burning a total of 7,271 hectares (ha).

PWF074 was discovered June 28 and is approximately 3 hectares in size, and located approximately five kilometers northwest of Little Buffalo. Initial Attack crews are working with helicopters to contain it. 

PWF067 is located 18 km from the Keg River highway at the 695 and highway 35 intersection. This fire is estimated to be 10 hectares in size and is classified as being held (BH). At this time, 14 firefighters and two helicopters and heavy equipment are working on this wildfire and containment lines are in place.

PWF070 is now extinguished. 

GWF018 is currently classified as Being Held (BH). It is now estimated to be 49,327 ha in size.

Wildland firefighters continue working to bring this wildfire under control. Today, 47 firefighters are using helicopters with buckets and water trucks as well as heavy equipment to maintain and hold containment lines. 

PWF-034 is located approximately 21 kilometers east and northeast of Worsley and 21 kilometers North of Cleardale. It is classified as being held at 587 ha. Firefighters continue to patrol this wildfire and action any hotspots found.

Check out the Clear Hills County website for a map and additional information. These wildfires have been actioned by local fire departments with help from Alberta Wildfire.  

Continue to stay informed by subscribing to Alberta Wildfire updates by entering your email. To view wildfires on a map, download the AB Wildfire App or visit the Wildfire Status page.

Fire behaviour on the Kimiwan Complex is expected to be HIGH today.

SWF068 is classified as Out of Control (OC) and is 132,315 hectares.

Forecast warm temperatures, low relative humidity and light southwesterly winds across the fire ground continues to dry out fuels. The fire is still quite active with hotspots inside the boundary of the fire, however there hasn’t been any fire crossing the guard lines in recent days.

Firefighters continue to patrol the northern tip of the fire to reduce the likelihood of future flare ups and preventative structural protection is in place. Crews are continuing to secure containment lines on the southern end of the fire, with reclamation also continuing. The fire is approximately 90 per cent contained.

An American Incident Management Team (IMT) is now managing this wildfire. Crews from Peace River, Australia, Yukon and America continue to work alongside each other, putting out hotspots and reinforcing guard lines, and assisted by heavy machinery and aircraft. There are 330 personnel assigned to SWF068. 

The American IMT was brought to Alberta through the Northwest Compact, a fire protection agreement created in 1998  for the purpose of promoting effective prevention, presuppression, suppression and control of forest fires in the Northwest wildland region of the
United States and Western areas of Canada. Members are the states of Alaska, Washington, Montana, Idaho, and Oregon; the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia, and the Yukon Territory and Northwest Territories.

PWF038 is classified as Under Control (UC) and is 6,534 hectares.

Reclamation work is continuing on the PWF 038 wildfire. Alberta Forestry and Parks, in its mandate to prevent and suppress wildfires within the province, is required to reclaim disturbed forest land caused by wildfire suppression operations. Wildfire reclamation is required to prevent or reduce the potential of soil erosion and ensure soil stabilization on or near the fire line.

A reminder to community members to please not drive on Seal Lake Road west of the intersection with Range Road 190.

Please do not report smoke or flame from within an active wildfire area. Firefighters are diverted from essential tasks to respond to fires reported by the public. You may see smoke or flame within the existing boundary of a wildfire; this is normal.

The Kimiwan Complex and Peace River Forest Area Information Officer is Michelle Huley. Call her at  780-652-2410, or email to michelle.huley@gov.ab.ca.

For more information about wildfire in or near municipalities impacted by SWF068, please go to Northern Sunrise County or the MD of Smoky River

The Long Lake Complex | HWF036, HWF058

Fires HWF036 and fire HWF058 are now being managed by two separate Incident Management Teams (IMT) and will no longer be called the Long Lake Complex. Fire HWF036 is named the Long Lake Fire and fire HWF058 is named the Basset Fire.

BC have also observed increased activity with their three fires on the border. There are three fires burning along the BC and Alberta border.  They are in remote country with no community and are being monitored by air. For more information on these fires please go  BC Wildfire Service gov.bc.ca

HWF058 | Basset Fire This fire was detected June 4, 2023. This fire is classified as out of control (OC) with an estimated size of 24,153 hectares.

This fire is located approximately 72 km southwest of the Town of High Level. This fire is approximately 17 kilometers northwest of the of Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement boundary marker, where the Haig River meets the Chinchaga River. 

This fire saw growth yesterday with the return of the hot temperatures. This fire grew east yesterday towards the Chinchaga River. As of this morning the fire remains on the west side of the Chinchaga River. The fire also was active on the southwest corner.

Today the fire is expected to see similar fire behaviour. Crews, heavy equipment, and aircraft are working to extinguish hot spots and are constructing control lines to limit growth tot he east and south. High Level's Wildland Urban Interface Team is establishing preventative structural protection along the river.  

The base camp for crews has been established at Keg River Camp, southwest of Paddle Prairie, there are plans to expand operations at Keg in the coming week.

Victoria Ostendorf | Wildfire Information Officer

High Level Forest Area
Forestry Division, Parks & Tourism

Office:780-926-5401

Cell:780-841-9387

For more information please visit the High Level Forest Area Update.

Using FireSmart principles is becoming a way of life for many communities in North America. With so many neighborhoods threatened by wildfire each year, residents are taking action and reducing the risk to their homes, cabins and properties. 

To learn more on how you can protect your home and structures from wildfire, visit firesmartcanada.ca or click here to watch videos. 

For those that have farm or acreages, this publication may be helpful to keep you FireSmart. Click on the link for the Farm and Acreage FireSmart Magazine.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

• Bookmark the Peace River Wildfire Update and check for updates anytime or subscribe to have it emailed to you. 
• You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit www.wildfire.alberta.ca

CONTACT

Wildfire Information Officer Kelly Burke, on behalf of Michelle Huley

Phone: 1-866-394-3473

kelly.burke@gov.ab.ca

HELPFUL LINKS