Whitecourt Forest Area Wildfire Update May 24, 2023 (11:00 A.M.)

ACTIVE WILDFIRES 

Provincial overview:

As of 10:00 a.m. today there were 67 active wildfires in the province; 17 of them were classified out of control. To date the province has responded to 521 wildfires that have consumed more than 1,018,000 hectares (ha) of land.

Eagle Complex WCX-001 (WWF-023, GPF-027)

Today crews are focusing efforts on reinforcing perimeters by working on finding and extinguishing hotspots inside the fire guards.  

All new information will be bolded.

WWF-023 detected on May 5, is listed as out of control at 73,478.6 ha. Firefighters saw no further growth towards Fox Creek today. 

Crews continued working in from the perimeter along the fire guard along the Iosegun Lake road. Along the excursion south of Highway 43 firefighters built more hose line along the wildfire and heavy equipment groups are establishing more fire breaks along that same line. 

There are more than 139 firefighters and support personnel allocated to this fire along with a structural protection unit and the Fox Creek Fire Department. Partners assisting Alberta on the complex include firefighters from Colorado, New Brunswick and soldiers from 1 Combat Engineer Regiment.

Weather has improved over the complex today and helicopters are able to fly in support of firefighters on the ground. There are currently 17 helicopters assigned to the Eagle complex. 

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.

Weather Today, Showers and thunderstorms advance north into the boreal and taper as an upper level low weakens. Expect heaviest rainfall in the northeast foothills with 10-20 additional mm.

GWF-027 was detected on May 13 and is out of control at 55,344.4 ha. Two dozer groups and crews worked the southern edge of the wildfire today.

OTHER AREA ACTIVE WILDFIRES 

WWF015 located near the Hamlet of Blue Ridge was detected on May 3 and is under control at 47 ha. Alberta Wildfire has a crew, with water tankers, dozers and a skidder who will continue working until the fire is deemed extinguished. An aerial assessment of this fire on May 12th saw no detection of smoke and fire activity.

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