Rocky Mountain House Area Update

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

While recent precipitation has eased the wildfire danger in the Rocky Mountain House area for now, sunshine, warmer temperatures and winds can quickly dry grass and vegetation and increase the risk of a fast moving wildfire.

Please use caution when spending time in forested areas this holiday weekend. If you are riding an OHV, stop regularly to check hotspots which can cause dry grass to ignite. 

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

CAMPFIRE SAFETY

We urge everyone to use caution when working and recreating outdoors. Never leave your campfire unattended.

• Never leave your campfire unattended! Always ensure it is properly extinguished when you are done with it. Soak it with water, stir it and soak it again until the ashes are cool to the touch.

• Let the fire burn down before you plan on putting it out. Spread the embers within the fire pit, then add water or loose dirt, and stir.

• Expose any material still burning. Add more water and stir again until you can no longer see smoke or steam. Do not bury your fire as the embers may continue to smolder and can re-emerge as a wildfire.

• Repeat until your campfire is cool to the touch.

• If your fire is out, you should not be able to feel any heat from the ashes.

• Follow these guidelines to build a safe campfire: wildfire.alberta.ca/prevention/campfire-safety  

NEW FIRE PERMIT PORTAL LAUNCHED

You can now request your fire permit online through a new online portal. During wildfire season, fire permits are required for any burning in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta, except for campfires.

Fire permits are free and help us track what is burning on the landscape. If you're burning without a fire permit or outside fire permit conditions, your fire is considered a wildfire. By getting a permit before burning, you help keep our firefighters free to fight real wildfires instead of responding to the smoke in your backyard.

To request a fire permit online, visit the new portal. You will need a MyAlberta Digital ID to access the portal. Please note that you can still request your permit from the Rocky Mountain House forest office by calling 403-845-8250.

NEW WILDFIRE DASHBOARD

The new 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. 

For more information, please contact: