The Rocky Mountain House Forest Area, along with the entire Alberta Wildfire team, is mourning the loss of a crew member who was fatally injured on Saturday, August 3, while responding to the wildfire in Jasper.
While we know that fighting wildfire can be a dangerous profession, it does not make a loss like this any less painful. Our hearts are with his family, friends and colleagues.
A procession was held with firefighters, emergency responders and contractors lining the highway in Hinton (August 4, 2024).
A procession was held with firefighters, emergency responders and contractors lining the road into the Rocky Mountain House Fire Base (August 4, 2024).
RCX001 - KISKA COMPLEX (RWF064, RWF063 and RWF062)
Southeast corner of RWF064 looking north (August 4, 2024).
The Kiska Complex is located west (RWF063 and RWF062) and southwest (RWF064) of Nordegg. All of the wildfires in this complex were caused by lightning.
RWF064 remains classified as OUT OF CONTROL and is 12 km northwest of the Ram Falls Provincial Park boundary and 25 km south of Nordegg. This wildfire is now estimated to be 6,996 ha in size.
RWF063 is classified as BEING HELD which means that means this fire is not expected to grow beyond certain boundaries under the current conditions. It is located approximately 17 km west of fire RWF062 and 50 km west of Nordegg. This wildfire is estimated to be 1,962 ha in size. This wildfire has shown very little activity throughout the week.
RWF062 is classified as OUT OF CONTROL and is located approximately 5 km north of the Crescent Falls Provincial Recreation Area (PRA), 9 km northwest from the Bighorn First Nation and 20 km west of Nordegg. This wildfire is now estimated to be 4,936 ha in size.
There are 39 firefighters, seven helicopters and 38 pieces of heavy equipment assigned to the Kiska Complex to support suppression efforts.
Cooler temperatures and rain have led to minimal fire behaviour and spread. This precipitation is expected to continue and will likely keep fire behaviour low for the next few days. Crews will take advantage of these conditions to make as much progress possible in suppressing the wildfire and reducing further spread.
Firefighters and heavy equipment continue work on building containment lines around RWF064, maximizing use of natural features in the area. Thanks to the favourable weather, crews are making good progress on containment and suppression efforts. Helicopters will continue to support with strategic bucketing operations, as conditions allow.
Expand (click) to view the full public map of RWF064.
Expand (click) to view the full public map of RWF062 and RWF063.
WEATHER FORECAST Tomorrow, the temperature is expected to reach 17C. Winds will be blowing from the north, northeast 10 to 15km/h. There is a high chance of precipitation which could bring 5-10 mm across the complex.
SMOKE AND ASH At times, the region may see falling ash and smoky air conditions. To see forecasted smoke, please visit FireSmoke.ca. If you have smoke related health concerns, please visit or contact Alberta 811.
ROAD CLOSURE The Forestry Trunk Road (Highway 40) is closed between Highway 11 and Highway 752. This closure is in place to ensure safety for travelers. For the latest road conditions, please check Alberta 511.
CAMPGROUND CLOSURES Alberta Parks has implemented closures for Ram Falls Provincial Park, Peppers Lake Provincial Recreation Area (PRA), Peppers Lake Staging Area PRA, Elk Creek PRA Campground, Elk Creek Fish Pond PRA, Alymer PRA and Crescent Falls PRA. Visit Park Closures on AlbertaParks.ca for more information.
PUBLIC LAND CLOSURES The Wapiabi Provincial Recreation Area and the Southern portion of the Blackstone/Wapiabi Public Land Use Zone, and the northwest portion of the Kiska/Wilson Public Land Use Zone are closed. This closure is in place to ensure public safety. Visit public land closures and advisories for more information.
Expand (click) to view the full public closure map.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE FOREST AREA UPDATE
Since January 1, 2024, there have been 73 wildfires in the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area, which have burned 13,879.14 hectares (ha).
There are currently seven active wildfires in the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area.
RWF067 is classified as UNDER CONTROL and estimated to be 0.50 ha in size. This wildfire is located within the Brazeau Canyon Wildland Provincial Park and the cause of this wildfire remains under investigation. This wildfire will be monitored for activity and actioned if required.
RWF060 and RWF 061 are classified as UNDER CONTROL both are estimated to be 0.01 ha in size. These wildfires were detected on July 22, and both were caused by lightning. These wildfires will be monitored for activity and actioned if required.
RWF072 is classified as UNDER CONTROL and estimated to be 0.15 ha in size. This wildfire is located northwest of Wild Horse Provincial Recreation Area and the cause of this wildfire remains under investigation. This wildfire will be monitored for activity and actioned if required.
For the most up-to-date wildfire information, visit the Alberta Wildfire Status Dashboard.
Visit wildfire status definitions for more information.
WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS
- Staying informed during emergencies can save your life. Protect yourself and your loved ones by downloading the Alberta Emergency Alert app to receive critical, life-saving alerts.
- You can also find out more information by contacting your community directly to find out where they post updated information during emergencies.
- Before you travel, check Alberta 511 for current road conditions to help you arrive to your destination safely.
- Visit FireSmart Alberta to learn more about the wildland-urban interface and how you can protect your home, neighbourhood or community from wildfire.
A fire ban is in place for the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area south of the Pembina River, due to dry conditions and expected weather. Please refer to Alberta Fire Bans for a detailed map.
Cities, towns, villages and summer villages, as well as federal lands (such as national parks), are exempt from this ban. These jurisdictions have the authority to issue their own bans and may have complementary bans in place.
Under this fire ban:
- All fire permits are suspended or cancelled.
- No new fire permits will be issued.
- Some allowances can be made for essential agricultural and industrial burning, if approved by a forest officer.
Prohibited:
- All outdoor wood fires, including wood campfires on public land, private land, designated campgrounds, and backyard firepits.
- Barbeque charcoal briquettes.
- Fireworks and exploding targets.
Allowed:
- Propane/natural gas-powered appliances.
- Indoor wood fires inside a structure (such as a facility, building, tent or RV) and contained within a device with a chimney and spark arrestor).
- Open flame oil devices (such as deep fryers and tiki torches). All devices must be CSA approved and used per manufacturer’s standards.
If you see a wildfire, report it immediately by calling 310-FIRE (3473). The fire ban and restriction will remain in effect until conditions improve.
Stay up to date by visiting Alberta Fire Bans website or downloading the application onto your smartphone: Apple or Android.
OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLES
Off-highway vehicle (OHV) use is allowed in the Forest Protection Area. If you are riding your OHV in forested areas please ensure you stop often and check your hotspots. Avoid idling on tall, dry grass and always carry firefighting equipment with you. Fire fighting equipment can include things like a shovel, fire extinguisher or a small water tank. For more information, visit off-highway vehicle safety.
STAY INFORMED - ALBERTA WILDFIRE INFORMATION
For more information, please contact: