Very High to Extreme Wildfire Risk Across Alberta, Fire Advisories & Restrictions in Place Province-Wide
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NOTE: YOU CAN CLICK ON THE MAP TO OPEN A ZOOMABLE IMAGE WHICH WILL BE EASIER TO READ.
Across Alberta, we are seeing high temperatures in the upper-20s and into the mid-30s, along with low humidity, very little precipitation, and some strong wind gusts. In some regions, crossover conditions are expected, which is the point at which the relative humidity is less than the temperature and this is indicative of extreme burning conditions. As a result of these conditions, the entire province is currently under Very High or Extreme wildfire risk as shown on our Wildfire Risk Forecast. All areas to the north of the top of the map are under Extreme risk. High intensity and fast spreading fires are likely to occur under these conditions and they can be very difficult for crews to control.
At the time of writing, there are 57 active wildfires: one each in the Grande Prairie, Lac La Biche, and Whitecourt Forest Areas, two in the Slave Lake Forest Area, three in the Peace River Forest Area, 15 in the Fort McMurray Forest Area, and 34 in the High Level Forest Area. There is also the potential for dry thunderstorms in the forecast with lightning that could cause additional fires.
Given the situations, each Forest Area has issued their own Fire Advisories or Restrictions as a means to limit further flare ups until conditions improve. Advisories continue to allow safe campfires, but fireworks and exploding targets are prohibited and permits may be restricted. Restrictions, on the other hand, prohibit burning of any kind on public lands and extreme caution must be exercised when using Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs). Also, permits may be restricted, suspended, or cancelled and no new permits will be issued. As of this point, there are only a handful of local Fire Bans across the province, so make sure to be aware of the fire status in your area. If you have a fire, it is absolutely crucial to soak it, stir it, and soak it again when putting it out and NEVER leave a campfire unattended. When using OHVs, always check for hotspots.
For more information, you can visit https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-wildfire.
