Whitecourt Forest Area Wildfire Update May 19, 2023 (1:30 P.M.)

ACTIVE WILDFIRES 

(Chris Marchand/OMNRF, May 18, 2023)

Eagle Complex WCX001 (WWF023, GPF027)

All new information will be bolded.

As of May 19, the Dale Horan Incident Management Team is leading firefighting efforts on the Eagle Complex. Going forward, both WWF023 and GPF027 will be referred to as the Eagle Complex (WCX001).

WWF023 (Eagle Fire) detected on May 5, is burning out of control estimated at 58,858 ha. The wildfire reached the established containment line at the north of the town of Fox Creek and the line is holding steady. 

Personnel resources allocated to this fire include firefighters, a structural protection unit and the Fox Creek Fire Department. Partners from other jurisdictions include an Incident Management Team from Ontario, Helitack crew members from Oregon and Cypress Hills, military personnel, as well as a pre-suppression crew from Quebec to assist with firefighting efforts. One 20 member unit crew from New Brunswick arrived yesterday to assist with firefighting efforts. Equipment includes 4 intermediate helicopters with 1 assessor, 3 medium helicopters with buckets and 2 heavy helicopters, as well as dozer heavy equipment groups. The Sky crane helicopter has a capacity of 2,000 galleons of water.

Established Fox Creek structural protection includes protection for all critical infrastructure, containment guards established by dozers groups with support from industry, along with wet sprinklers as further assistance for the containment guards, and ground retardant has been applied around the community perimeter, with support from industry. Additionally, three structural groups from municipalities in the Alberta Wildland Urban Interface Fire Structure Protection Program have been working together on structural protection for the community.

Crews will continue searching for hotspots on an ongoing basis. 

Sky crane helicopter bucketing over WWF-023 (Chris Marchand/OMNRF, May 18, 2023)

Wildfires burn very hot and will burn into the ground. The situation remains ever-changing and conditions on the fire line will continue to vary due to forecasted weather. Containment lines to the north and west of town continue to hold up to to prevent the wildfire from spreading further into the community of Fox Creek. 

The fire is burning on the ground surface of the ground but also climbing into the trees and creating a crown fire. Grasses and other fuels remain dry. High temperatures and dry conditions are anticipated to continue. Today, winds are projected to blow from a NW direction. 

GPF027 was detected on May 13 and is currently out of control at 28, 959 ha. New information from May 18 will be included on this page. For information up to May 17, please refer to Grande Prairie updates here. 

OTHER AREA ACTIVE WILDFIRES 

WWF029 was detected the afternoon of May 15 and is classified being held at approximately 0.26 ha. Alberta Wildfire has two ground crews and two helicopters on site monitoring.

WWF026 was detected on the afternoon of May 12 and is classified as under control at 0.05 ha. It is currently on patrol status with crews monitoring.

WWF024 was detected on May 6 and is under control at 3 ha. Alberta Wildfire will continue working to extinguish the fire. A dozer guard has been constructed by industry personnel.

FIRE BAN AND OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE RESTRICTION NOW IN EFFECT

Under this fire ban:

• All existing Fire Permits are suspended (or cancelled)
• No new Fire Permits will be issued

Prohibited:

• All outdoor wood fires are banned, including wood campfires on public lands, wood campfires on private land and provincial campgrounds
• Backyard firepits
• BBQ charcoal briquettes
• The use of fireworks and exploding targets
• The recreational use of off-highway vehicles (OHV) on public lands, including designated OHV trails

Allowed:

• Propane/natural gas-powered appliances
• Open flame oil devices (e.g., turkey deep fryers, tiki torches)
• Indoor wood fires contained within a device with a chimney and spark arrestor
• All appliances must be CSA approved and used per manufacturer’s standards
• Indigenous people when using an OHV for traditional purposes. Traditional purposes are hunting, fishing, and trapping – including the use of an OHV to travel to the location(s) for these purposes
• Essential industry-related activities requiring the use of OHVs
• Off-highway vehicle use is still permitted on private lands

If you see a wildfire, report it immediately by calling 310-FIRE.

The fire ban will remain in effect until conditions improve.

780-778-7166 if this line is unavailable please call 780-778-7153

General Information Related to Alberta Wildfire or Fire Bans, Restrictions, or Advisories

1-866-FYI-FIRE

General/Other Forestry Related Questions

780-778-7153