Whitecourt Forest Area Wildfire Update

WILDFIRE DANGER

Cold, snowy conditions keep the wildfire danger at low in the Whitecourt Forest Area.

Centennial Park, Whiteourt
Image: Centennial Park, Whitecourt, AB.

WILDFIRE SITUATION | April 6, 2018 at 10:00 a.m.

Whitecourt Forest Area

Since March 1, 2018 there have been zero wildfires in the Whitecourt Forest Area.

Province of Alberta

Since March 1, 2018, Alberta has recorded 20 wildfires in the Forest Protection Area that have burned a total of 2.12 hectares.

For more information on the current wildfire situation across the province of Alberta, visit wildfirestatus.alberta.ca

FIRE PERMITS ARE NOW REQUIRED

Free fire permits are required for any burning (except campfires) within the Forest Protection Area of Alberta.

If you need a fire permit in the Whitecourt Forest Area, call:

780-778-7272

Please call at least one week before you need a fire permit. Have ready the: legal land location, planned start date, and a daytime phone number.

Fire permits allow firefighters to track burning across the landscape. By getting a fire permit you are ensuring our firefighters are free to fight real wildfires, instead of responding to your planned burn.

If you burn without a fire permit, or outside of the fire permit conditions, your fire is considered a wildfire. Learn about violation tickets for burning without a permit.

PREVENTING A SPRING WILDFIRE IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY

With the ground still frozen and snow covered, now is the time to prevent spring wildfires. Please take the time to check your fall and/or winter burn site(s), to ensure the site is completely extinguishmed. Here are some tips on how to check fall and winter burn sites:

Stir it. Start by spreading out the debris within the pile using a metal probe, or if necessary, heavy equipment. Dig down into the soil to make sure the fire hasn’t burnt down in the roots system. Feel for hotspots with your bare hand while looking for steam or smoke.
Soak it. Using water or snow, soak the area to extinguish the hotspots. When a hotspot is fully extinguished it will be cool to a bare hand's touch.
Stir it again. One last time, roll the debris over and again, using your bare hand, feel for heat while looking for steam.

A fire is considered completely extinguished when there is absolutely no heat coming from the debris and ground beneath it. Learn more about extinguishing brush pile and windrows.

ALBERTA WILDFIRE INFORMATION

To get wildfire information anytime, any place, visit wildfirestatus.alberta.ca; or join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Whitecourt Area Update