Whitecourt Forest Area Wildfire Update

The wildfire danger across the Whitecourt Forest Area is LOW. Wildfires can still ignite but are not expected to spread into deeper vegetation layers or to larger fuels, such as trees, due to the moisture in the area.

The smoke and rain has created an weather inversion in the area that is creating dark skies. The smoke is not from wildfires located in the Whitecourt Forest Area but rather smoke from fires in the north and south regions of Alberta. To view smoke in the area visit Fire Smoke.

WHITECOURT FOREST AREA UPDATE

Since January 1, 2024, there have been 52 wildfires in the Whitecourt Forest Area burning a total of 29 hectares (ha).

There are three active wildfires in the Whitecourt Forest Area but they are under control.

WWF044 was discovered on July 16, and is located east of Fox Creek. It is 1 ha in size and is classified as under control. This means the wildfire is completely contained and will be extinguished. This wildfire was caused by lightning.

WWF043 was discovered on July 16, and is located approximately 14 kilometers northwest of the Virginia Hills Road and Hope Creek Road intersection. It is 8.5 ha in size and is classified as under control. The cause of this wildfire remains under investigation.

WWF051 was discovered on July 23, and is located approximately 41 kilometers northwest of Fox Creek. It is 0.01 ha in size and is classified as under control. This wildfire was caused by lightning.

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

PROVINCIAL WILDFIRE UPDATE

Since January 1, there have been 977 wildfires recorded in the Forest Protection Area that have burned 550,176 hectares (ha). There are currently 176 active wildfires in the Forest Protection Area. Of these wildfires, 54 are classified as out of control, 50 are classified as being held and 72 are under control.

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

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Smoke from fires in the north and south has created dark skies over the Whitecourt Forest Area as these two smoke weather currents meet in central Alberta at this time.

SMOKE CONDITIONS

Wildfire smoke is causing or expected to cause very poor air quality and reduced visibility in the Whitecourt Forest Area. FireSmoke has an interactive forecast, which provides hourly, daily average and daily maximum concentration of smoke particles from wildfires.

Learn more: Wildfire smoke, air quality and your health.

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A fire ban remains in effect for the entire Forest Protection Area of Alberta, including the Whitecourt Forest Area, due to hot and dry conditions.

Cities, towns, villages and summer villages, as well as federal lands (such as national parks), are exempt from this ban. These jurisdictions have the authority to issue their own bans and may have complementary bans in place.

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.

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OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLES

At this time there is no OHV ban within the Whitecourt Forest Area in the Forest Protection Area. However, within municipal boundaries of towns, hamlets or summer villages the governing organization can prohibit the use of certain equipment. To stay in the know of fire ban information please visit Alberta Fire Bans. We strongly encourage you to research the local regulations in the area you would like to ride in, before heading out.

If you are riding your OHV in forested areas please ensure you stop often and check your hotspots. Vegetation can build up in certain areas on your machine, as the material heats up, it can drop off and start a wildfire as you ride away.

Avoid idling on tall, dry grass and always carry firefighting equipment with you. Fire fighting equipment can include things like a shovel, fire extinguisher or a small water tank.

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FIRESMART

As most of us live in the Wildland Urban Interface it is up to us to ensure that our homes are protected while living in the forested areas of Alberta. There are small practices that you can do to protect your home from a wildfire. Is your home ready?

The FireSmart fact sheet can get you started as your walk around your property identifying potential improvements you can make to the landscape. To find out more about FireSmart practices you can visit FireSmart Alberta.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Are you and your family prepared when an emergency occurs? If you're not sure where to start you can information at Alberta.ca to get started today!

WILDFIRE DASHBOARD

The location and details of all active wildfires in Alberta is available on the Alberta Wildfire Status Dashboard. This is a great resource to get the most up-to-date information and important statistics like the number of wildfires in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta, their sizes, locations and more.

You can also download the Alberta Wildfire App for Apple and Android.

For more information, please contact:

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