Slave Lake Forest Area Wildfire Update

Please call 310-FIRE (3473) to report wildfires.

Wildfire Danger Rating

A Fire Restriction remains in effect. Visit www.albertafirebans.ca for a map of the affected areas and details.

FIRE RESTRICTION IN EFFECT

A fire restriction is in effect within the Forest Protection Area of Slave Lake.

Under this fire restriction:

Existing fire permits are suspended and no new fire permits will be issued
Safe wood campfires within fire rings in campgrounds are allowed
Essential burning may be allowed with written permission from a forest officer

Allowed:

Safe wood campfires (including charcoal briquettes) on private lands and in provincial campgrounds
Backyard fire pits, charcoal briquette barbeques
Propane/natural gas powered appliances
Indoor wood fires contained within a device with a chimney and spark arrestor
Cooking, warming and lighting devices - all devices must be CSA approved and used as per manufacturer's standards

Prohibited:

All outdoor wood fires are banned on public lands, including backcountry and random camping areas
The use of fireworks and exploding targets are also prohibited

The fire restriction will remain in effect until conditions improve. Firefighters thank you for your cooperation.

To view a map of the affected area visit www.albertafirebans.ca

If you have questions about the fire restrictions please call 1-866-394-3473.

The OHV ban has been removed at this time for the Slave Lake Forest Area. Please use caution when recreating. Always carry firefighting equipment with you (fire extinguisher), a water vessel and shovel. Avoid idling on dry grass.

Weather

For today, temperatures are expected to be 22-24 degrees and relative humidity will be 30-35 percent. The winds will be from the west at 20-25 km/h gusting 40. There is a moderate chance of lightning today.

Do not fly drones near wildfires

The use of recreational drones over wildfires in Alberta is dangerous, illegal and could result in a fine of up to $15,000* for putting aircraft and people at risk. Please give Alberta firefighters the space they need to do their jobs safely.

*according to Transport Canada

NOTAM

Aircraft pilots are reminded to check NOTAMs before flying into areas with active wildfires. Flying into a NOTAM area without prior authorization will cause disruption to aerial firefighting.

Wildfire Situation

SWF081 located at Chipewyan Lake is classified as burning out of control and is an estimated 20,082 hectares. Wildfire operations are being conducted by the Fort McMurray Forest Area. For information visit the Fort McMurray Forest Area Wildfire Update. If you have any questions regarding SWF081 please contact Wildfire Information Officer Emily Smith at 780-799-9253.

For evacuation information for Chipewyan Lakes and surrounding area. Visit https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-emergency-alert.aspx

helicopter loading may 28

Helicopters filling up their buckets May 27, 2023

*New information will be bolded

Saulteaux Complex – SWF085, SWF086 and SWF087

These wildfires are located approximately five kilometres northwest of Smith and 30 kilometres east of the Town of Slave Lake. SWF086 is still classified as out of control at approximately 4,742 ha.

SWF085 (approx. 39 ha) and SWF087 (approx. 1,036 ha) have been classified as being held. Being held means that the fires are not expected to grow beyond established boundaries.

Structure protection equipment has been removed from the Old Smith Highway, but structure protection is ready to be deployed if needed. Wildland firefighters with water trucks continue to work patrolling for and extinguishing ground fires in the area. Firefighters are working along the wildfire perimeter extinguishing ground fires with pump and hose around residents’ homes along the Old Smith Highway when needed. Heavy equipment has established guard all around the north end of the wildfire boundary.

Today, firefighters will continue working alongside heavy equipment and fire guard has been established from the southwest to the southeast and moving to the north. Smoke will be present in the area but hotspots are being worked by helicopters actively bucketing along the perimeter. While ground crews continue to make up ground along the north and east side of the fire boundary.

Minimal fire behaviour was reported yesterday and no growth. Smoke will still be present in the area within the fire perimeter.

Saulteaux Complex - public map

Evacuation alert information for the area can be found https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-emergency-alert.aspx

Highway 2 is open. For the latest road conditions visit https://511.alberta.ca/#:Alerts

Grizzly Complex - SWF057, SWF063, SWF064

SWF-057 is located approximately 26 kilometres south of Kinuso and over 30 kilometers southwest of the Town of Slave Lake. The wildfire is classified as out of control and has burned an estimated 16,728 hectares. Firefighters continue to extinguish hotspots along Highway 33 and the south perimeter of the wildfire. Yesterday, firefighters concentrated their efforts to extinguish hotspots on the south boundary. Today, firefighters will continue to monitor that area and will extinguish hotspots that create smoke. Smoke was visible on the east side.

SWF-063 is located approximately seven kilometers south of High Prairie and sixteen kilometers northwest of Swan Hills. The wildfire is classified as burning out of control and has burned an estimated 123,670 hectares. Work will continue in the northwestern portion of the wildfire. Firefighters continue to extinguish hotspots in the Banana Belt and East Prairie Metis Settlement areas with pumps and hose.

Heavy equipment will continue to build fire guard on the east side of the wildfire heading north towards High Prairie. Groups of dozers have established guard on the west side of SWF-063 preventing spread.

Yesterday, smoke was more active on the east side of the wildfire and within East Prairie Metis Settlement. Today, helicopters will monitor and bucket on smoking hotspots within the perimeter and will action any flare-ups as wildfire activity has the potential to intensify within the week if no precipitation is forecasted.

SWF-064 is located over 40 kilometers northwest of Swan Hills. The wildfire is classified as out of control and has burned approximately 40,060 hectares. This wildfire has connected to SWF-063 to the north. Today, helicopters are working to extinguish hotspots along the wildfire perimeter as they occur.

Grizzly Complex - public map

Visit https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-emergency-alert.aspx for evacuation information for East Prairie Metis Settlement.

Visit the Town of Swan Hills Facebook page for more evacuation information https://www.facebook.com/TownofSwanHills.

Winds for the complexes will be out of the west at 15km/h gusting 30km/h.

Today, there is a total of 92 firefighters, 24 support staff and 87 pieces of heavy equipment on the Saulteaux and Grizzly Complexes. There are 21 helicopters that will be conducting bucketing operations on major hotspot areas. In addition, 72 military personnel will be helping with transportation, safety, and various firefighting duties.

Nipisi Complex - SWF059, SWF060, SWF083

SW060 has combined with SW059 and is located 2.3 kilometres east of the border of the Whitefish Lake First Nation. This wildfire complex is now being held and has burned approximately 43,981 hectares.

SWF083 is located on the east side of Muskwa Lake. Airtankers have established retardant lines around the entire wildfire. The wildfire is classified as being held at 33.7 hectares. Being held means under the current weather conditions, the wildfire is not anticipated to grow past expected boundaries.

There are resources associated to this wildfire and helicopters are working on the Nipisi Complex monitoring for smokes within the wildfire perimeter as needed.

The Kimiwan Complex - SWF068 and PWF038

SWF068 is located approximately six kilometres northwest of Peavine Metis Settlement. Firefighting operations are being conducted by the Peace River Forest Area. Peavine Metis Settlement remains under an evacuation order. Visit https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-emergency-alert.aspx For more information on this wildfire visit the Peace River Wildfire Update.

Since January 1, 2023, in the Slave Lake Forest Area, there have been 87 wildfires which have burned 373,504 hectares.

Since January 1, 2023, in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta, there have been 528 wildfires which burned 1,058,739 hectares.

To view wildfires on a map, download the AB Wildfire App or visit the Alberta Wildfire Status Dashboard

NOTE: The wildfire perimeter is an estimate based on measurements such as GPS, aerial scanning and satellite imagery. This estimated perimeter can change as more accurate measurements become available. Areas within the fire perimeter may not have been affected by wildfire.

Re-entry Information for Residents

We ask that residents stay out of areas that have been burned by the wildfires in the area. Wildfires will make the root systems of trees weak, and any amount of wind will affect the trees in the area. Falling trees will be an ongoing hazard and for residents’ safety you should avoid the burned-out areas.

Firefighters will be actively working on and around properties extinguishing hotspots, please give them the space they need to work.

There will be structure protection equipment on homes and infrastructure in the area. We ask that you do not move the equipment as it is in place to protect buildings on your property. Structure protection will remain in place until the wildfire threat has decreased.

Alberta Emergency Alert

A provincial state of emergency has been declared for Alberta. Critical alerts and advisories have been and could be issued for communities around active wildfires. Visit http://www.alberta.ca/emergencyalert for details. Albertans who require assistance can also call 310-4455 for evacuation related information.

Be Prepared

Learn about wildfires and what you can do to be prepared. Visit https://www.alberta.ca/wildfire-preparedness.aspx

Road Closures

With the dynamic wildfire situation, highways could be closed with short notice. Visit https://511.alberta.ca for the latest information on road closures.

Travel not recommended on side roads around active wildfires

For your safety, travel on side roads around active wildfires is not recommended. Not only are there active fires in these areas there are also firefighting operations that could be delayed by your presence. Firefighters appreciate your cooperation.

Smoky Conditions

Anyone with health concerns should visit Alberta Health Services or call 811 for health advice from Alberta Health Link. Before travelling check www.511.Alberta.ca for information the latest road conditions or closures. Visit www.firesmoke.ca to see where the smoke is coming from.

Reporting Wildfires

We have firefighters in aircraft working on the out of control wildfires and fire lookouts watching for smoke. While we always appreciate people calling in to report wildfires, the large volume of calls we are currently receiving is diverting our resources away from fighting wildfires. As always, please still call 310-FIRE if you see smoke or flame that looks new and potentially unreported, but assume that large columns of smoke and burned over areas have already been detected and reported.

Volunteer Information

Volunteers, equipment owners/operators or firefighters looking to assist with these wildfires or any of the wildfires within the province, please contact EmergencySupportOffers@gov.ab.ca.

wildfire app (2)

Wildfire Information

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 province, 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.

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.

Subscribe to the Slave Lake Forest Area Wildfire Update to receive an email when new information is posted.

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