The wildfire danger for the Whitecourt Forest Area is VERY HIGH.
Wildfires can still start in cooler weather, especially in dry and windy conditions. Always use caution in forested areas.
A FIRE ADVISORY remains in effect for the Whitecourt Forest Area.
For a map of the restriction boundary, visit AlbertaFireBans.ca.
FIRE ADVISORY IN EFFECT
A fire advisory is in effect for the Whitecourt Forest Areas. Although the fire danger is LOW across much of southern Alberta, this fire advisory is in place as a precautionary measure. There will likely be a cured grass hazard by the weekend.
Under this advisory:
- Existing fire permits remain valid, but extension requests may not be granted.
- New permits will be issued on a case-by-case basis.
- Campfires are allowed in both designated campgrounds and random camping areas.
- Fireworks and exploding targets are prohibited.
We encourage any landowners who have done burning over the winter and that have had past fire permits to revisit the burn location to ensure these fires are fully extinguished.
The fire advisory will remain in effect until conditions improve or further escalation is required.
Stay informed on fire restrictions and fire bans in your area by checking www.albertafirebans.ca.
If you see a wildfire, report it immediately by calling 310-FIRE.
Never leave a campfire unattended. Soak it, stir it and soak it again until cool to the touch to ensure it is extinguished.
PLANNED IGNITION
Thursday May 9, 2024
A hazard reduction burn is planned for a section in the Whitecourt Forest Area. This burn will be approximately 7.5 hectares in size and is located 600 meters west of the Town of Swan Hills. Smoke may be visible in the area and the planned ignition will begin at noon today until 6:00 p.m. if safe burning conditions continue.
All public roads and highways will remain open. However minor delays may occur due to smoke. The immediate area adjacent to the planned ignition has a public access closure until the area is safe to entre.
There will be two unit ground crews working in collaboration with the Swan Hills Fire department as a cross-training opportunity.
Hazard reduction burns are used to remove extremely flammable fire fuel around communities, reducing the risk of wildfire. These burns provide training opportunities for crews to observe fire behavior and work with other agencies during controlled burning conditions.
WWF-023 was first detected on May 5th, 2023, by Eagle tower Road and was 15.7 KM NE of the town of Fox Creek.
This fire was caused by lighting and was fought by crews for 367 days. WWF-023 burned a total of 66,436.70 hectares of land.
Alberta Wildfire firefighters performed patrols and extinguished hotspots throughout the winter. Once the snow melted and conditions allowed, extensive high level heat scans were conducted using aircraft.
Dozens of firefighters from Canada, the United States of America and beyond worked on this fire and we are filled with immense gratitude and are grateful for all those who lent a hand in extinguishing this fire.
Our focus continues to be the safety of our residents as we move into this year’s wildfire season.
We encourage the public to look for opportunities to protect their properties from wildfire, your efforts can help protect your homes and help protect our first responders.
FireSmart is more than a collection of best-practices, programs, resources, and tools. FireSmart is a way of living with and managing the risk of wildfire. It is a shared responsibility between government, community leaders, neighbourhoods, and residents. Together, we can build a wildfire resilient Alberta. A FireSmart Alberta.
For more information on the current wildfire situation, visit Alberta Wildfire Status or download the AB Wildfire Status app for Apple and Android.
CAMPFIRE SAFETY
SOAK IT, STIR IT, AND SOAK IT AGAIN
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Let the fire burn down before you plan on putting it out. Spread the embers within the fire pit, then add water or loose dirt, and stir.
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Expose any material still burning. Add more water and stir again until you can no longer see smoke or steam. Do not bury your fire as the embers may continue to smolder and can re-emerge as a wildfire.
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Repeat until your campfire is cool to the touch.
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If your fire is out, you should not be able to feel any heat from the ashes.
EVACUATION PREPARDNESS
Are you prepared in case of an evacuation? In the event of an evacuation, individuals and families should be prepared to take care of themselves for at least 72 hours. Find out what you need to do this wildfire season to be prepared. Click here for more information.
OHV SAFETY
When operating equipment, clear debris from moving parts, check your muffler and keep equipment in good repair. Do not operate equipment in tall grass. Keep watch of your surroundings and ensure you have sufficient firefighting equipment and water available. Equipment fires or work-related sparks, friction and hot exhaust can cause even small amounts of dry vegetation to ignite into a wildfire.
If you see a wildfire, report it immediately by calling 310-FIRE.
FIRESMART
Your actions today can minimize wildfire damage to your home and property tomorrow. Visit the new FireSmart Alberta site to learn how taking proactive FireSmart measures around your house and yard can increase your property's resistance to wildfire.
Download the Farm and Acreage Guide to Reducing the Risk From Wildfire for additional information.
For more information, please contact:
Wildfire Information Officer
Randi-Marie Adams
(780) 706-5336
Email: randi.adams@gov.ab.ca
RELATED INFORMATION
Websites:
- Alberta Wildfire
- Alberta Fire Bans
- FireSmart in Alberta
- Alberta Emergency Alerts
- Air Quality Health Index
- Wildfire Smoke and Your Health
- 511 Road Reports
- Emergency Preparation
Social media:
Apps: