Chuckegg Creek Wildfire - High Level Forest Area - Alberta Wildfire/Facebook

The wildfire danger for the Grande Prairie Forest Area is High. Weekend weather forecast is calling for a return of hot, dry and windy conditions. As such, the fire ban and off-highway vehicle restriction will remain in effect for the Grande Prairie Forest Area.

In the past 24 hours, the Grande Prairie Forest Area has had four wildfire starts. Since wildfire season began March 1, 2019, Alberta Wildfire has recorded 25 wildfires with a total of six hectares burned. Currently, crews are working to extinguish the wildfires sparked by lightning yesterday. All the fires are currently under control. At this time of year, lightning fires are common. In order to be prepared for new wildfires, crews have been stationed strategically throughout the area to quickly and efficiently fight fires. We are also searching for new fires by aerial patrol and lookout personnel will constantly watch from their tower sites for new fires.

A Fire Ban and an Off-Highway Vehicle Restriction Remains in place for parts of the Province of Alberta, including the Grande Prairie Forest Area effective May 22, 2019.  Existing Fire Permits are canceled and no new fire permits will be issued. Many municipalities outside the Forest Protection Area also have fire bans and restrictions. The Fire Ban and Off-Highway Vehicle Restriction will remain in effect until conditions improve. 

Get the most up to date information regarding fire bans at www.albertafirebans.ca.

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

Prohibited

  • All open fires including campfires in campgrounds, back country and random camping areas and backyard fire pits.
  • Charcoal briquettes, turkey fryers and tiki torches.
  • Fireworks and exploding targets.
  • The use of off-highway vehicles for recreational use on all public lands. 

Allowed

  • Portable propane fire pits that are CSA approved or UL certified.
  • Gas or propane stoves and barbecues that are CSA approved or UL certified and are designed for cooking or heating.
  • Catalytic or infrared-style heaters.
  • OHVs for industrial use, agricultural use, and traditional use by Indigenous peoples, as well as use on private lands.