Rocky Mountain House Area Update

The wildfire danger in the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area is extreme. 

Report smoke or fire in the forest by calling 310-FIRE (3473). 

AMENDMENTS TO FIRE BAN AND OHV RESTRICTION

A FIRE RESTRICTION is now in effect.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE FOREST AREA UPDATE

There are currently four wildfires burning in the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area. Two of these wildfires are out of control and two are classified as under control. Since January 1, 2023, there have been 53 wildfires in the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area, burning a total of 120,541.30 hectares (ha). 

Tomorrow an upper ridge peaks over Alberta, while a system over Montana will bring showers and thunderstorms over the southern foothills. Chance of afternoon showers and risk of thunderstorms over the northern eastern slopes. Hot, dry, stable conditions in the boreal. Highs 27-31°C for the boreal forest and northern/eastern slopes, and 18-24°C under the trough in far southern Alberta.

For Saturday an upper ridge will move over Saskatchewan as an upper trough lies off British Columbia. A north-south cold front will form early Saturday along the Bristish Columbia border and lie through the western boreal to the mountain parks in the afternoon. Fair stable conditions over the eastern boreal ahead of the front, RH min 20-30%, 27-32°C and RH min 30-50%, 22-30°C behind it.

Sunday the upper ridge retreats further east as an upper low moves just north of the province.

With the continued hot dry weather, the Rocky Mountain House area is seeing an increase with fire activity on existing fires.  

Initial attack and lookout resources remain diligent with fixed detection and aerial patrols.

ACTIVE WILDFIRES

RCU005 - This wildfire is classified as being held. Alberta Wildfire continues to support RCU005 with resources. Given the current weather conditions, the wildfire is not anticipated to grow past expected boundaries.

PEMBINA WILDFIRE COMPLEX - EWF031/039, RWF034/040

Today on the Pembina Complex, multiple columns were visible from nearby communities. The reason these columns were visible is because of hot and dry weather in the region is igniting unburned fuels within the fire perimeter. The location of the increased activity is on the northwest flank for the fire RWF034 (approximately over 40 kms away from the town of Edson) and the northeast and east of fire 30 (approximately 35 kilometers away). Some smoke was also visible near the Moose Creek Road within the fire perimeter. These fuels will continue to burn, and smoke will be highly visible as temperatures increase and relative humidities drop for the next couple of days.

Today, as unburned fuels within the fire perimeter ignited, the fire’s interior naturally cleaned itself up by removing available fuel within the fire perimeter.

Personnel are conducting planned ignition operations on areas of the fire that are presenting favorable conditions to strengthen containment lines. When unburned pockets of fuel remain within the fire perimeter they pose a risk for potential spotting beyond containment lines. By utilizing planned ignition operations, aerial and ground support resources can take advantage of conditions that allow them to remove available fuel adjacent to existing containment line. Should these unburned fuels ignite naturally under adverse wind conditions, ground resources may be challenged.

Ground ignitions and potential aerial ignitions will take place at the south flank of RWF034, northeast and east of EWF031 when favorable. All other opportunities to clean up unburned fuels and increase suppression efforts ahead of the forecast cold front expected this Saturday. Unburned fuels are being burned out by ground crews to bring the fire’s edge to control lines where crews can effectively work the fire’s edge to improve containment.

EWF031 was detected on May 4 and is located 25 km west of Lodgepole, 20 km northwest of Brazeau Dam and 14 km southeast of Edson. The fire is classified as out of control and is estimated to be 130,762 ha in size.

EWF039 located near Carrot Creek, is currently being held. The fire is currently estimated to be 165 ha. The fire is fully wrapped in containment line and is a kilometer away from the Carrot Creek lookout tower. The Lookout staff will keep watch over the area.

RWF034 is located near the O'Chiese Reserve and classified as out of control. The fire is currently estimated at 87,108 ha in size.

RWF040 The fire is actively monitored by firefighters and support staff assigned to the complex who can respond if necessary. The fire is currently estimated to be 5,089 ha in size and remains classified as out of control. Containment line was completed a couple of days ago around the east, south, and west sides of the fire. Crews will continue working from the Blackstone River clockwise around the fire perimeter. 

Crews are actively supporting the guard with the installation of water systems which includes hose and pumps.

An infrared scan completed a few days ago indicated that there were several hotspots within the fire perimeter.

Credit to: Sarah Hall, Pembina Complex. Wildfire Information Officer, BC Wildfire Service.

For wildfire updates on this group of wildfires, please visit the Edson Forest Area Update.

If you have any questions or concerns about the PEMBINA COMPLEX, please call the Area Wildfire Information Officer:  Caroline Charbonneau at 780-740-1341.

Lightning through the area may cause new wildfire starts. Lightning-caused wildfires can smoulder in the ground for a few days before becoming active and visible. This is called a "holdover" fire. Alberta Wildfire follows weather forecasts and tracks each lightning strike using a tracking system. This allows them to pinpoint where there are areas that have been heavily impacted by lightning. They then send out firefighters to patrol these areas.

PROVINCIAL WILDFIRE UPDATE 

Since January 1,2023, in the Forest Protection Area, there have been 611 wildfires burning a total of 1,224,465.19 ha.

WILDFIRE DASHBOARD

The wildfire dashboard provides up-to-date wildfire information at the click of a button. This interactive tool displays important statistics on the number of active wildfires in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta, sizes, locations, suspected causes and more.

The dashboard builds on the former wildfire status map by displaying the most frequently accessed information in one convenient location.

WILDFIRE INFORMATION

Download the Alberta Wildfire app today and get access to accurate, real-time information on wildfires in your area. You can also find information on fire advisories, restrictions and bans across the province and much more all on your mobile device.

Available for Apple and Android.

Before heading out, please check albertafirebans.ca to determine whether there are any fire advisories, fire restrictions or fire bans in effect for your destination.