Whitecourt Area Update

Firefighters urge everyone to use caution when working or recreating in forested or grassy areas and to report smoke or fire in the forest by calling 310-FIRE (3473).

Please extinguish your campfire and never leave it unattended. Soak your campfire, stir it and soak it again until the ashes are cool to the touch.

WHITECOURT FOREST AREA FIRE DANGER RATING 

The wildfire danger in the Whitecourt Forest Area remains MODERATE.

WHITECOURT FOREST AREA WILDFIRE UPDATE

Since January 1, 2022, there have been 52 wildfires in the Whitecourt Forest Area burning a total of 110 ha. 

PROVINCIAL WILDFIRE UPDATE

Since January 1, 2022 in the Forest Protection Area, there have been 936 wildfires burning a total of 116,342 ha. 

SMOKE

Smoke is drifting into the province from wildfires in British Columbia and the Northwest Territories. You can find more information about the smoke forecast at https://firesmoke.ca/forecasts/current/

ALEXANDER TREATY DAYS 

Thank you to Alexander First Nation for having Alberta Wildfire at Treaty Days over the weekend. It was great to spread wildfire prevention and FireSmart information to residents. Our firetack crews do great work and it's great to see them involved in the community! Thank you firefighters! 

CAMPFIRE SAFETY

SOAK IT, STIR IT, AND 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.

• 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. 

FIRESMART

Citizen involvement is the cornerstone of the FireSmart Canada Neighbourhood Recognition Program.

If you live in a region susceptible to wildfires, you and your neighbours will learn how to decrease the risk of losing your homes, and how to best protect yourselves in the event of a wildfire.

FireSmart homes and neighbourhoods allow firefighters to concentrate on fighting the wildfire, which ultimately saves more homes and lives.

Neighbourhoods in which residents take steps to reduce their vulnerability have a greater chance of surviving a wildfire without the intervention of the fire department.

Being FireSmart doesn't have to be complicated and there are many resources to help you get started. You can check out some easy tasks by visiting firesmartcanada.ca, click here to watch a video or you can take the FireSmart Canada FREE one-hour course by clicking here. 

REQUEST A FIRE PERMIT

Wildfire season in Alberta is from March 1 until October 31. During wildfire season, you are required to have a fire permit if you plan on burning in the Forest Protection Area, with the exception of a campfire.

To request a free fire permit online, visit the new portal. You will need a MyAlberta Digital ID to access the portal. Please note that you can still request your permit from the Fort McMurray forest office by calling 780-743-7125.

For more information regarding fire permits, you can view our video by clicking here.

WILDFIRE INFORMATION

Download the Alberta Wildfire app today and get access to accurate, real-time information on wildfires in your area. You can also find information on fire advisories, restrictions and bans across the province and much more all on your mobile device. 

Available for Apple and Android.

Before heading out, please check albertafirebans.ca to determine whether there are any fire advisories, fire restrictions or fire bans in effect for your destination. 

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:

Join the conversation on

• Alberta Wildfire App for Apple or Android.
• Alberta Fire Bans App for Apple or Android.