Whitecourt Area Update

WWF-046 was discovered on July 17, and is located south of Fox Creek. It is 0.12 ha in size and is classified as being held. There are four firefighters on scene being supported by heavy equipment and helicopter bucketing operations. This wildfire was caused by lightning. 

WWF-044 was discovered on July 16, and is located east of Fox Creek. It is 1.10 ha in size and is classified as being held. There are eight firefighters on scene being supported by heavy equipment. This wildfire was caused by lightning.

WWF-043 was discovered on July 16, and is located approximately 14 kilometers north west of the Virginia Hills Road and Hope Creek Road intersection. It is 8.49 ha in size and is classified as being held. There are 16 firefighters on scene being supported by heavy equipment. The cause of this wildfire remains under investigation. 

There was one additional new wildfire today, WWF-047 located near the Carson-Pegasus Provincial Park. It was quickly reported, assessed and classified as extinguished. 

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

Under this fire ban:

• All fire permits are suspended or cancelled.
• No new fire permits will be issued.
• Some allowances can be made for essential agricultural and industrial burning, if approved by a forest officer.

Prohibited:

• All outdoor wood fires, including wood campfires on public land, private land, designated campgrounds, and backyard firepits
• Barbeque charcoal briquettes.
• Fireworks and exploding targets.
  

Allowed:

• Propane/ natural gas-powered appliances.
• Indoor wood fires inside a structure (such as a facility, building, tent or RV) and contained within a device with a chimney and spark arrestor). 
• Open flame oil devices (such as deep fryers and tiki torches). All devices must be CSA approved and used per manufacturer’s standards.

If you see a wildfire, report it immediately by calling 310-FIRE (3473).

The fire ban will remain in effect until conditions improve. 

Stay up to date by visiting Alberta Fire Bans website or downloading the application onto your smartphone: Apple or Android.

OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE SAFETY

Off-highway vehicle (OHV) use is allowed in the Forest Protection Area. You can reduce the risk of your OHV causing a wildfire by following these simple steps:

• Before you ride, clean out hot spots and remove debris from your machine.
• After riding through muskeg or tall grass, stop and remove any build-up from your machine.
• Carry firefighting equipment such as a small shovel, collapsible pail or fire extinguisher.
• Wash your OHV and keep it clean – do not wash in streams and creeks.
• Make sure your muffler and spark arrestor are working properly.
• Stop frequently. Take the time to knock debris from your machine’s hot spots. If the debris is smouldering, soak it, stir it, and soak it again to make sure it is extinguished.

For more information, visit off-highway vehicle safety.