The wildfire danger across the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area remains high and a fire ban remains in effect.
The weather forecast for tomorrow, July 26, is a high of 19 degrees with a relative humidity of 35% and winds expected from the northwest at 25-30 km/hr.
If you see smoke or flame and suspect that it is a new wildfire, please call 310-FIRE (3473). 9-1-1 calls are for immediate emergency calls.
Rocky Mountain House Forest Area Wildfire Update
Since January 1, 2024, there have been 65 wildfires in the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area, which have burned 4,041.22 hectares (ha).
There are seven active wildfire in the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area.
RWF-064 remains classified as out of control. This wildfire is northwest of the Ram Falls Provincial Park and approximately 30 km southwest of Nordegg. This wildfire is now estimated at 360 ha in size. Firefighters made good progress throughout the day with support from heavy equipment to establish the dozer guard. Todays wind conditions did not allow for airtankers to action the fire, this will be assessed for operations tomorrow.
Weather forecast: Wet and cool conditions will continue into Friday, and the forecast is calling for warmer temperatures as we move into the weekend. Moderate to strong winds with high gusts will continue tomorrow, while winds will become lighter for the weekend.
RWF-064 on July 25, 2024 approximately 3:00 pm.
RWF-062 remains classified as being held. This wildfire is approximately 13 km northwest of the Crescent Falls Provincial Recreation Area and 30 km west of Nordegg. This wildfire is now estimated to be 1,600 ha in size, this size increase is due to better mapping. Visit the Wapiapi Provincial Recreation Area web page for information on area closures. This wildfire was caused by lightning.
RWF-062 on July 25, 2024 approximately 4:00 pm.
RWF-063 remains classified as being held. This wildfire is 50 km west of Nordegg. This wildfire is now estimated to be 2,070 ha in size, this increase to size is due to better mapping. This wildfire was caused by lightning.
RWF-063 on July 25, 2024 approximately 4:00 pm.
The locations of RWF-062 and RWF-063 are within the forest management plan, which identifies areas that will benefit from wildfires for forest rejuvenation. Given the location, the plan for these wildfires is to manage, continuously assess and monitor their progress and firefighters will action if required.
RWF-060 and RWF 061 both remain classified as being held. These wildfires are northwest of Nordegg. Both of these wildfires are 0.10 ha in size. These wildfires were detected on July 22, and both were caused by lightning.
RWF-065 is under control, located approximately 15 kilometers southwest from the Brazeau River Public Recreation Area. This wildfire is currently be 0.04 ha in size. This wildfire was detected on July 25, and the cause remains under investigation.
RWF-058 remains classified as under control, located southwest of the Brazeau Reservoir PRA. This wildfire is currently 0.10 ha in size. This wildfire was detected on July 21, and the cause remains under investigation.
Smoke can be seen from many places within the forest area. There are no immediate threats to any communities at this time.
For the most up-to-date wildfire information, visit the Alberta Wildfire Status Dashboard.
Visit wildfire status definitions for more information.
Off-Highway Vehicle Safety
Off-highway vehicle (OHV) use is allowed in the Forest Protection Area. You can reduce the risk of your OHV causing a wildfire by following these simple steps:
- Before you ride, clean out hot spots and remove debris from your machine.
- After riding through muskeg or tall grass, stop and remove any build-up from your machine.
- Carry firefighting equipment such as a small shovel, collapsible pail or fire extinguisher.
- Wash your OHV and keep it clean – do not wash in streams and creeks.
- Make sure your muffler and spark arrestor are working properly.
- Stop frequently. Take the time to knock debris from your machine’s hot spots. If the debris is smouldering, soak it, stir it, and soak it again to make sure it is extinguished.
For more information, visit off-highway vehicle safety.
Smoke Conditions in the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area
There is an air quality advisory in place for the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area. Wildfire smoke is causing or expected to cause very poor air quality and reduced visibility. Air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke can fluctuate over short distances and can vary considerably from hour to hour. For additional information visit:
- Daily Air Quality Index.
- FireSmoke has an interactive forecast that provides hourly, daily average and daily maximum concentration of smoke particles from wildfires.
Wildfire Dashboard
The locations and details of all active wildfires in Alberta are available on the Alberta Wildfire Status Dashboard. This is a great resource to get the most up-to-date information and important statistics like the number of wildfires in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta, their sizes, locations and more.
You can also download the Alberta Wildfire App for Apple and Android.
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 remains in effect for the entire Forest Protection Area of Alberta, including the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area, due to hot and dry conditions.
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 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.
Stay Informed:
For more information, please contact: