Slave Lake Area Update

Slave Lake Forest Area Wildfire Update - November 27, 2023

Posted on Mon, Nov 27, 2023

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Today and tomorrow, we are expecting winds to be gusting 60-80 kilometres per hour. Firefighters strongly advise postponing any winter burning, as fires have the potential to spread rapidly. If you have previously conducted winter burning, go back and check your winter burns to ensure they are extinguished.

Even during the winter, firefighters are ready to respond to wildfires. If you spot a wildfire report it by calling 310-FIRE(3473).

Winter Burning

From November 1st to February 28th fire permits are not required for burning in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta. Even though a fire permit is not required, you are still responsible for any fires you ignite outside of the wildfire season.  Click here to learn how to safely burn brush, vegetation or woody debris on your property.

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 (3473).

  • 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.

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Firefighters urge everyone to use caution when burning this winter as holdover fires are likely to occur due to the extremely dry conditions in the ground. A fire lit in the winter and left smouldering 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.To prevent spring wildfires, make sure to check your winter burn sites frequently and ensure that all fires are completely extinguished.

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

While winter is a safer time for burning due to reduced wildfire danger, it's still essential to take necessary precautions, such as monitoring the weather to prevent smoke from adversely affecting surrounding areas.

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.

 
Wildfire Situation 
  
Since January 1, 2023, in the Slave Lake Forest Area, there have been 145 wildfires which have burned 429,015.32 hectares. Of the 145 wildfires,11 are under control and 134 have been extinguished.

Since January 1, 2023, in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta, there have been 1,119 wildfires which burned 2,211,963.05 hectares. Of the 1,119 wildfires, 12 are being held, 57 are under control, 5 have been turned over and 1,045 have been extinguished.

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.

Recruitment - helicopter and smoke

Now Hiring
 
Alberta Wildfire is hiring! We’re looking for hard-working and dedicated people to join our team as wildfire crew members for the 2024 wildfire season. Click here to apply.
 
If you have any questions about the recruitment process or would like more information regarding the job please email WF.WildfireEmployment@gov.ab.ca.
 
Applications are due November 30th, 2023.
 

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FireSmart

It’s that time of year again! Wildfire Community Preparedness Day applications are now open.
If you’re new to FireSmart, Prep Day is about neighbourhoods coming together to work on a project to reduce their wildfire risk.You can apply for a $500 award to fund your neighbourhood project!
Click here for more information.

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 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.

Join the conversation on FacebookTwitter or Instagram.

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If you have any questions, please contact:

Leah Lovequist

Wildfire Information Officer

Mobile:780-849-0945

Leah.Lovequist@gov.ab.ca

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