Fire Restriction
Continuing hot, dry weather has elevated the wildfire hazard to extreme throughout most of Alberta, including the Whitecourt Forest Area. A Fire Restriction is now in place for the Whitecourt Forest Area.
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All fire permits are suspended or canceled and no new permits will be issued until conditions change.
- Safe wood campfires are permitted in designated campgrounds only.
Other jurisdictions, including municipalities and provincial parks, may also issue fire restrictions or bans. Please check AlbertaFirebans.ca.for detailed information.
Off-Highway Vehicle Use
Consider Not Riding Your Off-Highway Vehicle Until the Wildfire Hazard Reduces...
The hot, dry weather makes it more important than ever to not start a wildfire. Please consider postponing all off-highway vehicle use until conditions improve.
Are You Working and Using an OHV or Heavy Equipment?
Under the extreme wildfire hazard and current Fire Restriction, there are steps you can take in your day-to-day operations to help prevent a wildfire:
Off-highway vehicle (OHV) Use
- Defer any non-essential use.
- If you have to use the OHV, before, during and after your ride, stop and remove the build-up of grass, muskeg and other vegetation from your machine (see diagram above for Hot Spots). Stop often (more often if you are in an area of high hazard grasses or peat) to remove the debris from your machine.
- Carry firefighting equipment with you at all times on the OHV – water, shovel and bucket.
Heavy Equipment
- Defer any non-essential use.
- Use an early shift configuration where operations stop at noon, before the heat of the day and the peak wildfire-burning period.
- Establish “Active Monitoring” practices – once you have completed operations with heavy equipment, stay in place and watch for flames or smoke for at least 30 minutes. This will help you make sure that activities didn’t start a wildfire.
- If you have specific questions on this, please call our Industry Liaison at 780-779-7321
Wildfire Hazard
Warm temperatures and lack of rain, push the wildfire hazard to EXTREME for the Whitecourt Forest Area. Today, we are expected to reach a high of 28 degrees Celsius, wind will be south east in direction at 15 kilometres per hour. There is no rain in the forecast for the coming week and the wind will by gusting up to 30 kilometres per hour tomorrow.
A significant amount of water on the ground is needed for the forest to recover from the current dry conditions. Areas of dry grass and branches pose the most significant risk of wildfire. Wildfire in these areas will start easily and spread quickly, making it very hard for firefighters to control.
Wildfire Update
Wildfire Update | May 3 @ 10:00 a.m.
There are four wildfires in the Whitecourt Forest Area. Two have been turned over to the responsible party. Two other wildfires remain the the Area:
- Whitecourt Airport Area Wildfire (WWF-018) started May 2 and is located on the north-side of the Whitecourt Airport runway, just under 3 kilometres west of the Town of Whitecourt. No structures or communites are under threat. The wildfire is UNDER CONTROL at 0.37 hectares in size. Initially, firefighters from the Town of Whitecourt were assisting our firefighters, along with helicopters. Today, nine Alberta Agriculture and Forestry firefighters will continue to work hard until it is extinguished.
- Anselmo Area Wildfire (WWF-014) started on April 28 and remains UNDER CONTROL at 1.50 hectares in size. It is located just over 12 kilometres west of the Town of Mayerthorpe. Firefighters will continue to monitor the wildfire until it is extinguished.
Firefighters are assisting other municipalities outside of the Forest Protection Area with two wildfires:
- Duffield Area Wildfires (WCU-001/WIR-001) these two wildfires are located in the area of Duffield, Alberta. Assistance was requested by both Parkland County and Wabamun Indian Reserve No. 133A on April 17. Currently, 41 firefighters are assisting with these wildfires.
- Onoway Area Wildfire (WCU-002) is located approximately 24 kilometres north west of St. Albert, Alberta. Assistance was requested at 10:00 pm on April 18 by Lac Ste. Anne County. There are nine firefighters assisting with this wildfire. It is burning deep into the peat layer that is in the area. Firefighters are using chainsaws and shovels to dig up, soak and stir the burning material, working to extinguish this wildfire.
Image: May 2, firefighters, helicopters and heavy equipment working on the Whitecourt Airport Area Wildfire (WWF-018), located on the north-side of the Whitecourt Airport.
Unless conditions change, you can expect your next update on May 4, 2016.
