Slave Lake Area Update

If fires aren’t properly put out, they can spread and burn underground, under the snow and ice, all winter. Under the right conditions, these fires can re-emerge in the spring as wildfires. Do your part to prevent spring wildfires by revisiting your winter burns to make sure there are extinguished.

Firefighters do respond to wildfires, even in the winter. If you spot a wildfire report it by calling 310-FIRE(3743).

Winter Burning

From November 1^st to February 28^th fire permits are not required for burning in the Forest Protection Area. Even though a fire permit is not required, you are still responsible for any fires you ignite outside of the wildfire season. 

Firefighters are urging everyone to use caution when burning this winter as holdover fires are likely to occur. With the lack of rain in the late summer and fall, the conditions in the ground are extremely dry. This means a fire will dig in and burn deep in the ground, under the snow all winter long. Under the right conditions, these fires can re-emerge in the spring as wildfires.

Take the time to properly prepare your burn site. Know the requirements needed to be successful during your burn and how to properly extinguish your site.

Before You Burn

• Winter burns should be conducted in areas with sufficient snow cover of more than 15 centimetres and burns must be monitored the entire time. 
• Ensure smoke warning signs are in place before burning within half a mile (800 m) from a roadway. For more information on smoke management and to acquire signs, contact your local municipality. If you are outside of a municipality, contact Alberta Transportation.
• Read over the Recommended Practices for placement and instruction of a “Smoke Ahead” sign.

While burning:

• Have someone monitoring the burn the entire time – if it escapes, immediately report it to 310-FIRE.
• Only burn what you can control with the equipment and people you have available, and adjust your burning according to weather conditions.
• Build it right. Brush piles or debris windrows should be free of soil, built to a maximum height of 3 metres, and with a fireguard or cleared land around it to stop the spread of fire.

 After you burn:

• Spread remaining material within the pile and soak with water as required.
• Check the area and ensure both heat and smoke are no longer being produced by the pile – it should be cool to the touch.
• Check your burn site multiple times in the following weeks to ensure it has not reignited.

Smoke Safety

The lower fire hazard in winter is a safer time to consider doing your burns. There are still some necessary precautions to take before burning, like monitoring the weather to ensure smoke from your burn won’t negatively impact surrounding areas.

For information on ventilation conditions within the province, visit Environment Canada’s Ventilation Index.

On particularly cold winter days, inversions and other weather factors can cause smoke from a winter burn to stay close to the ground and travel great distances. An inversion happens when cold air is trapped near the ground by a layer of warmer air above it. Inversions can cause dangerous driving conditions and impact nearby communities.

When burning in winter:

• Refrain from burning when an inversion is in place or is forecasted.
• Consult local municipalities and authorities on how to mitigate impacts when undertaking larger winter burning projects near communities or road ways.
• Actively manage burn projects to reduce disposal time and smoke impacts.
• Burning debris in stages will allow you to adapt to changing weather conditions and reduce smoke.
• Monitor weather conditions: lower temperatures and lighter wind speeds can result in stronger inversions. The ideal conditions for burning are typically days with average temperatures and wind speeds over 5 km/h.
• Ensure good snow cover in the burn area (more than 15 cm).

Safe burning practices are always in season – don’t let your winter burn come back to life in the spring.

Cutting your own Christmas tree from Alberta's forests

Gathering around a real Christmas tree your family has chosen and harvested from our public forests is a cherished Alberta tradition.

To cut your own Christmas tree from Alberta’s public forests, you simply need a Personal Use Forest Products Permit (PUFPP). The permit allows you to harvest up to three Christmas trees from designated areas on Crown land. Each tree must be less than 2.5 metres tall, or about eight feet.

There is no cost to get a PUFPP and you can easily obtain it online by visiting www.alberta.ca/tree-cutting.aspx

Maps are also available by visiting www.alberta.ca/tree-cutting-permit-maps.aspx

FireSmart

Want to reduce your risk against wildfire? Apply today for a $500 #WildfirePrepDay award to help #FireSmart your neighbourhood!  Find ideas and applications by visiting https://firesmartcanada.ca/programs/wildfire-community-preparedness-day/

Wildfire Information

Unless conditions change you can expect your next wildfire update on January 13th.

If you have any questions please contact:

Leah Lovequist

Wildfire Information Officer

Mobile:780-849-0945

Email: leah.lovequist@gov.ab.ca

RELATED INFORMATION

Websites:

• Alberta Wildfire
• Alberta Fire Bans
• FireSmart in Alberta
• Alberta Emergency Alerts
• Air Quality Health Index
• Wildfire Smoke and Your Health
• 511 Road Reports
• Emergency Preparation
  

Social Media:

Join the conversation on

• Alberta Wildfire App for Apple or Android.
• Alberta Fire Bans App for Apple or Android.