Photo credit: Government of Alberta.

By Curtis Galbraith

wildfires

Wildfire hazard updates

May 23, 2024 | 4:07 PM

Peace River

Fire watchers in the Peace River Forest Area say the fire hazard there is moderate.

Of the seven fires currently active, five are carryovers from last year. All are under control.

One of those fires is shared with the Grande Prairie Forest Area and another with the Slave Lake Forest Area.

Since January 1, there have been 35 fires that have burned 116 hectares.

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Whitecourt

The wildfire hazard in the Whitecourt Forest Area is low. It currently has no active fires.

Since January 1, the Whitecourt area has had 24 fires that have burned 19 hectares.

High Level

The wildfire hazard rating in the High Level Forest Area is moderate.

A fire advisory is in effect. Existing permits are still valid but new ones will be issued on a case-by-case basis.

The High Level area has 11 active fires. Of those, 10 are under control and one is being held. Seven of those under control fires are carry over ones from last year.

High Level has had 35 fires start since January 1 that have burned 536 hectares.

Those totals do not include the Cameron Hills fire (pictured below) that has burned over 14,000 hectares, It started in the Northwest Territories.

Fire watchers say this blaze became “very aggressive” on Thursday, May 23, and started to spread northeast towards the Northwest Territories.

Firefighters were forced to pull back from the front line in many areas.

The Cameron Hills wildfire pictured on May 23, 2024. Photo credit: High Level Forest Area Wildfire Information office.