Whitecourt Forest Area Wildfire Update

The fire danger is low. Wildfires can still ignite in cooler conditions. Make sure to fully extinguish your campfire.

To report smoke or flame in the forest please call 310-FIRE (3473).

October 31 is the last official day of the 2024 wildfire season. Fire permits are no longer required after the 31 but please review safe winter burning practices.

end of wildfire season 2023 landscape

END OF WILDFIRE SEASON

While today is the last day of the 2024 fire season it is important to remember that wildfires can still start if conditions are right. Always remember to properly extinguish any campfires you may have in the forested areas of Alberta.

Fire permits are no longer required after October 31 but please keep safe winter burning practices in mind. Avoid burning when a weather inversion is predicted as it can keep smoke laying low and may impact roadways.

There is a lack of snow in the Whitecourt Forest Area and any burning on the landscape has the potential to dig deep into the ground creating holdover fires. Holdover fires are fires that are not properly extinguished and will burn underground. When conditions are right these fires can start up again in the spring creating a wildfire. We ask that you kindly wait to start any winter burning until there is at least 15 cm of snow on the ground.

Find more information on winter burning.

RECRUITMENT

Positions are open for the 2025 wildfire season. Join our team today!

If you're interested in being a crew member please visit the crew member posting. If being a crew leader/sub-leader interests you please visit the crew leader/sub-leader posting.

The closing date for crew members is November 30 and the crew leader/sub-leader applications will remain open until suitable candidates are found.

Having local members from the community on our team is very valuable. Knowledge of the terrain, local communities, and backcountry areas are an asset for any candidate interested in applying.

Not sure where to start? The video below describes what a typical day could look like as a wildland firefighter working for Alberta Wildfire.

Every person on a crew will need to pass the WFX-FIT Test in 14:30 minutes or less to be accepted in the next stage of the interview process. This video below demonstrates what you will experience when you take the fitness test yourself!

While it can be an intense process, being a firefighter and helping Albertans every summer is very rewarding.

For more information and positions visit the recruitment page on our website.

WHITECOURT FOREST AREA WILDFIRE UPDATE

Since January 1, 2024, there have been 71 wildfires in the Whitecourt Forest Area burning a total of 30 hectares (ha).

PROVINCIAL WILDFIRE UPDATE

Since January 1, there have been 1,216 wildfires recorded in the Forest Protection Area (FPA) that have burned 705,788 hectares. There are currently 28 active wildfires in the FPA that are classified as under control.

For the most up-to-date wildfire information, visit the Alberta Wildfire Status Dashboard.

GET YOUR TREE HARVESTING 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.

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:

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