The fire danger is LOW. This means that a wildfire can still ignite but is not expected to spread to deeper vegetation layers or larger fuels, such as trees.
To report smoke or flame in the forest please call 310-FIRE (3473).
WHITECOURT FOREST AREA UPDATE
Since January 1, 2024, there have been 62 wildfires in the Whitecourt Forest Area burning a total of 30 hectares (ha). At this time, there are no active wildfires in the Whitecourt Forest Area.
PROVINCIAL WILDFIRE UPDATE
Since January 1, there have been 1,169 wildfires recorded in the Forest Protection Area (FPA) that have burned 708,584 hectares. There are currently 54 active wildfires in the FPA. Of these wildfires, 7 are being held and 47 are under control.
For the most up-to-date wildfire information, visit the Alberta Wildfire Status Dashboard.
HUNTING SEASON HAS BEGUN
As temperatures drop and more people venture into the forest on hunting trips you may want to start a warming or cooking fire. We hope that you keep campfire safety tips at the top of your mind while you enjoy the outdoors.
In the backcountry or where there is no dedicated fire ring you can make a safe campfire by:
- making a circle about one metre around
- digging or scraping down to the mineral soil
- clearing away any flammable materials within one metre of the pit
When extinguishing campfires always remember to soak it, stir it and soak it again.
Safe campfires: Wildfire prevention tips
GET YOUR FREE FIRE PERMIT
Until October 31, all burning activities in the Forest Protection Area, excluding campfires, require a fire permit.
Fire permits ensure safe burning practices and allow staff to know where burning is approved so firefighters and aircraft are free to fight wildfires. Your municipality may have its own rules and restrictions in place. Contact them for further details.
To get your free fire permit you can phone your local forestry office in Whitecourt at 780-778-7153 or by going online and applying at www.alberta.ca.
GET YOUR HARVEST PERMIT
Personal Use Forest Products Permits are for small-scale personal use only (no resale) for Christmas trees, firewood or transplants. These free permits are available online or in person at your nearest forestry office.
PUFPPs authorize Albertans to cut and removed timber from designated Crown land only. The area-specific PUFPP document must be with you at all times while cutting or transporting trees from Crown land. In one 30-day period, a person can hold up to 4 permits – up to one permit each for: firewood, Christmas trees, roundwood and transplants.
RECRUITMENT
Alberta Wildfire had a great time interacting and educating students about the roles available to them this upcoming fire season at the 2024 Career and Education Expo last week. If you were unable to stop by you can visit our recruitment page. Seasonal postings will be posted soon!
For anyone aged 16-18 there are seasonal positions with the Junior Forest Rangers coming soon and can be found online.
LOCAL WILDFIRE INFORMATION
Subscribe to Whitecourt Forest Area updates to receive an email notification when new information is posted.
Download the Alberta Wildfire App for Apple or Android devices. Once you open the app, click the "i" icon at the bottom left to view the latest forest area updates.
For more information, please contact:
RELATED INFORMATION
Websites:
- Alberta Wildfire
- Alberta Fire Bans
- FireSmart Alberta
- Alberta Emergency Alerts
- Air Quality Health Index
- Wildfire Smoke and Your Health
- 511 Road Reports
- Emergency Preparation
Social media:
Apps: