Slave Lake Area Update

FIRE BAN IN EFFECT - Slave Lake Forest Area Wildfire Update - May 7th

Posted on Thu, May 07, 2020

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Wildfire Danger - May 8th

The wildfire danger for areas north of Lesser Slave Lake remains HIGH. Rain is expected to bring relief to the wildfire danger for areas south of Lesser Slave Lake, however until the rain is on the ground the conditions remain dry. Click here to view the Fire Danger map for May 8th.

Firefighters urge everyone to use caution as the dead grass will ignite easily and a wildfire will spread quickly under windy conditions. Report wildfires immediately by calling 310-FIRE(3743).

Weather

The forecast for Friday May 8th is calling for a high of 16 degrees and winds from the north 20 kilometres per hour. There is a chance of rain.

Wildfire Update - May 7, 2020

There was one new wildfire last night which is under control and has been turned over to the landowner to extinguish.

There were no new wildfires today.

Since March 1 in the Slave Lake Forest Area, there have been 13 wildfires which have burned a total of 3.04 hectares. 

The McMillan Wildfire which occurred during the 2019 wildfire season, remains under control and will be infrared scanned this spring.

Since March 1 in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta, there have been 118 wildfires burning a total of 50.40 hectares.

For more information on the current wildfire situation across the province of Alberta, visit wildfirestatus.alberta.ca.

Off-Highway vehicle restriction in effect

An OHV restriction is in effect within the Forest Protection Area (FPA) of Alberta in the High Level Forest Area, Peace River Forest Area, the northwestern portion of the Slave Lake Forest Area and the rural areas surrounding Fort McMurray.

OHV RESTRICTION MAP

MINISTERIAL ORDER

What is an OHV

An “off-highway vehicle” is a motorized vehicle designed to go beyond defined roadways, including but not limited to:Quads, Side by sides, Dirt bikes, 4x4 Jeeps, Pick-up trucks, Sport utility vehicles and snowmobiles.

Prohibited

The recreational use of OHVs on public lands, including designated OHV trails.

Exceptions to the OHV restriction

  • Indigenous people when using an OHV for traditional purposes. Traditional purposes are hunting, fishing, and trapping – including the use of an OHV to travel to the location(s) for these purposes.

  • Essential industry-related activities requiring the use of OHVs.

  • Off-highway vehicle use is permitted on private lands.

  • An Off-highway vehicle restriction exemption is also in place for those licenced for the spring black bear hunt.

Fire Ban in effect

There is a fire ban in effect for the Forest Protection Area of Alberta, as well as in Alberta provincial parks and protected areas, until further notice.

FIRE BAN MAP

FIRE BAN FACT SHEET

MINISTERIAL ORDER


Fire permits are suspended or cancelled. Some allowances can be made for essential agricultural and industrial burning, but will need to be approved by a forest officer.

Prohibited
• Wood campfires on public lands.
• Wood campfires on private land and provincial campgrounds.
• Backyard firepits, and
• Barbeques with charcoal briquettes.

Allowed
• Propane / natural gas powered appliances
• Open flame CSA approved oil devices
• Wood fires in an enclosed facility or device, which have a chimney with a spark arrestor


** All devices must be CSA approved and used as per manufacturer standards. An enclosed facility or device is one that is fully contained with a chimney that has a spark arrestor. Users are still responsible for care and attendance of all devices and should reduce their use during fire restrictions and bans. Approved activities or devices will not prevent potential prosecution or litigation if the user or device starts a wildfire.

For more information regarding the Fire Ban and OHV Restriction, please contact: 

Phone: 1-866-394-3473

Visit AlbertaFireBans.ca for a map of the affected areas.

 

Unless conditions change you can expect your next wildfire update on May 8th.

If you have any questions please contact:

Leah Lovequist

Wildfire Information Officer

Mobile:780-849-0945

Email:Leah.Lovequist@gov.ab.ca

 

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