Whitecourt Forest Area Wildfire Update

WHITECOURT FOREST AREA

The wildfire danger in the Whitecourt Forest Area is VERY HIGH.

Whitecourt Forest Area Update

If you see smoke or flame in the forest call 310-FIRE (3473).

For any fire advisories, restrictions, or bans please click on https://www.albertafirebans.ca/ for more information specific to your area.

The Whitecourt area is in a heat warning with temperatures in the 30s.

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(WWF077 is approximately 3.91 hectares in size and is being held.)

WWF077 was detected July 7th, 2021 and is approximately 3.91 hectares in size. The wildfire is classified as being held. The wildfire is located south of the intersection of the ANC Road and Bigstone Road. There is currently one wildfire crew and one helicopter working to extinguish hotspots. The cause of this wildfire was lightning.

*There are no threats to any communities at this time.*

SMOKE RELATED HEALTH CONCERNS

Please be advised that smoke from multiple wildfires from British Columbia is drifting into our area. To learn more about smoke produced by wildfires, visit firesmoke.ca. For smoke related health concerns, please visit Alberta Health Services, click here.

Fire Restriction

FIRE RESTRICTION IN EFFECT

A FIRE RESTRICTION is now in place for the Whitecourt Forest Area due to hot and dry conditions, which will increase the fire danger.

Under this restriction:

Existing fire permits are suspended.
All outdoor fires presently burning under permit must be extinguished, unless approved to continue by a Forest Officer.
Safe wood campfires within fire rings in campgrounds and backyard fire pits are allowed.

Prohibited:

Wood campfires on public land
Fireworks and exploding targets

Allowed:

Wood campfires on private land
Wood campfires within provincial campgrounds in a designated campfire ring
Backyard fire pits on private land
Charcoal briquette barbeques
Propane or natural gas fueled appliances
Indoor wood fires
Open flame oil devices

The fire restriction will remain in effect until conditions improve.

Remember to check the hot spots on your off-highway vehicle (ohv) and remove debris before and after use.

Never leave a campfire unattended. Soak it, stir it and soak it again until cool to the touch to ensure it is extinguished. If you see a wildfire, report it immediately by calling 310-FIRE.

If you have any questions, please call 780-778-7166 or 1-866-FYI-FIRE.

Please see https://www.albertafirebans.ca/ for more information specific to your location.

July 5 - fire restriction poster

ATV JFR

JUNIOR FOREST RANGERS

The Hinton JFR group came to Whitecourt for two full days of all terrain vehicle training. Thank you to Whitecourt All Terrain Limited for teaching the young rangers all about atv safety. Many of the techniques and information they learned included:

emergency stopping
driving on an uneven surface
hill safety
roadway safety while on an atv
safe distancing between atv riders
Atv awareness and so much more!

WILDFIRE UPDATE

Since March 1, 2021, there have been 75 wildfires in the Whitecourt Forest Area, burning approximately 44.00 hectares. There were three previously reported wildfires that began before March 1, 2021, burning a total of 0.23 hectares. One wildfire is being held, four wildfires are under control and 73 wildfires have been extinguished.

Since March 1, 2021, there have been 723 wildfires recorded in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta, burning a total of 4,663 hectares.

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

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