Whitecourt Forest Area Wildfire Update

The fire danger is moderate. This means that if a wildfire were to occur it would exhibit creeping or gentle surface fire due to cooler temperatures.

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

WHITECOURT FOREST AREA UPDATE

Since January 1, 2024, there have been 61 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 1,153 wildfires recorded in the Forest Protection Area (FPA) that have burned 708,127 hectares. There are currently 61 active wildfires in the FPA. Of these wildfires, 18 are being held and 43 are under control.

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

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HUNTING SEASON HAS STARTED

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. Soak it again.

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.
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 smoulder and can re-emerge as a wildfire at a later time when conditions are right.
Repeat until your campfire is cool to the touch.
If your fire is out, you should not be able to feel any heat from the ashes.

Safe campfires: Wildfire prevention tips

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WILDFIRE FARMING PREVENTION

Now that fall is quickly approaching, fuels are starting to dry out and die off, this process creates large amounts of cured grass. This very flammable vegetation can build up in hot areas on your farming equipment. As this material gets hot, it can drop off in areas of tall dry grass which can start a wildfire.

You can mitigate this risk by making sure your farming equipment is in good working order to reduce any sparks that may land in dry vegetation. You should always carry fire fighting equipment with you like a fire extinguisher, hand tools, additional water vessels, etc.

Along with farming you may need to do additional work on your farm or acreage such as welding or other hot works. To avoid starting a potential wildfire you should never work in areas over tall dry grass. If you absolutely have too, we ask that you have someone watching for sparks or that work should be completed in the early morning or later in the evening when we experience cooler temperatures.

Thank you for being vigilant and safe while you work in the forested areas!

Fire Permit Online

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.

Safe burning practices include:

Never leaving your fire unattended.
Only burn what you can control and follow the conditions of your permit.
Have your fire permit ready to present if requested.
Watch for sparks and burning material that may result in smaller fires.
Larger fires can send these sparks over several kilometres, especially when burning in the wind.
If the wind is gusting over 15 km/h or increases beyond the limit on your permit, immediately extinguish your fire.
Have the tools and equipment listed in your permit available to put out any spot fires that may occur.

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.

2024 Public Expo Poster

UPCOMING EVENTS

Are you interested in a career with Alberta Wildfire? Come talk with us on September 26 and see all of the seasonal positions that will be available for the 2025 wildfire season.

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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