Forest fuels are drying out from the higher temperatures and the fire risk is serious. If a wildfire does occur, moderate to vigorous surface fire is expected, which may spread to treetops. Conditions may be challenging for fire suppression efforts.
Please use caution when working or recreating in the forested areas of Alberta.
Smoke has drifted into the Whitecourt Forest Area from fires outside of the province. You can visit FireSmoke for more information.
If you see smoke or flame in the forest please call 310-FIRE (3473) to report it.
WHITECOURT FOREST AREA UPDATE
Since January 1, 2024, there have been 60 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 1,144 wildfires recorded in the Forest Protection Area (FPA) that have burned 708,128 hectares. There are currently 71 active wildfires in the FPA. Of these wildfires, 27 are being held and 44 are under control.
For the most up-to-date wildfire information, visit the Alberta Wildfire Status Dashboard.
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!
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.
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.
RECENT EVENTS
Alberta Wildfire had a blast over the weekend at Blue Ridge Family Fun Days! Thank you to everyone who came out to say hello and to learn about how they can help with wildfire prevention.
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:
RELATED INFORMATION
Websites:
- Alberta Wildfire
- Alberta Fire Bans
- FireSmart Alberta
- Alberta Emergency Alerts
- Air Quality Health Index
- Wildfire Smoke and Your Health
- 511 Road Reports
- Emergency Preparation
Social media:
Apps: