Local Wildfires (June 19)
There are no wildfires in the Whitecourt WMA.
Since April 1, 2015, there have been 41 wildfires which have burned 31.48 hectares.
Provincial Wildfires
Alberta currently has 23 wildfires. Two are being held, 20 are under control and one has been turned over to the responsible party.
- Provincial wildfires of note:
- EWF-054 also known as the Rockslide Creek Wildfire is being held and is located approximately 24 km south of Grande Cache. There are 105 firefighters and seven helicopters fighting this 12,052 hectare wildfire. Area Update
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LWF-122 also known as the Burnt Lake Wildfire is under control and is located approximately 40 kilometres north of Cold Lake in the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range. There are 100 firefighters, five helicopters and 13 pieces of heavy equipment fighting this 31,997 hectare wildfire. Area update
- HWF-157 also known as the Harper Creek Wildfire is being held and is located approximately 18 kilometres south of Fox Lake. There are 137 firefighters and eight helicopters fighting this 6,420 hectare wildfire..Area update
Since April 1, 2015, Alberta has recorded 889 wildfires that have burned a total of 90,174.21 hectares.
Fire Permits
BEFORE YOU BURN IT, GET YOUR PERMIT
If you want to do any burning within the Forest Protection Area (FPA); you need to get a fire permit for any burning, excluding campfires.
- Fire permits are free. To get the process started call 780-778-7272.
- Please call a week in advance of when you would like to burn in order to give our staff time to make arrangements to come out to your site and issue your permit.
- Fore efficiency, please have your site ready according to the burning site guidelines. before staff arrive. For your safety, a site visit is required in most cases.
- All permits must be completely extinguished before they expire, if you need more information make sure to ask.
What Burning Activity is Currently Restricted?
The Whitecourt Wildfire Management Area does not have a fire ban, restriction or advisory in place. This means in most parts of the Whitecourt WMA, safe campfires and burning are allowed at this time.
Other management areas within the Forest Protection Area (FPA) and some municipalities (including towns, summer villages, counties or provincial parks) have maintained their fire advisory, restriction or ban. Please visit www.albertafirebans.ca to ensure that there is not a fire ban or restriction in your area before burning.
Ask A Firefighter!
How do you properly put out a campfire? Here's the answer in this short video!
How Can You Help?
If you are using an an Off-highway Vehicle during your day, periodically stop and check your vehicle for the build up of grass, branches or debris. This material can catch fire and drop from your vehicle as you drive; acting like a drip-torch it can start a wildfire. Learn more here.
Unless conditions change, you can expect your next wildfire update June 25th.
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Shannon Stambaugh | Wildfire Information Officer
Whitecourt Wildfire Management Area
mobile: 780.706.5336