Courtesy: Alberta Wildfire
PEACE RIVER FOREST AREA / WILDFIRE SITUATION
There are currently three fires classified as BEING HELD in the Peace River Forest Area. Since January 1, there have been 95 wildfires in the Peace River Forest Area, which have burned approximately 15,892 hectares.
HIGH LEVEL FOREST AREA | ACTIVE WILDFIRES OF INTEREST
HCX001 – Semo Complex (HWF053, HWF061, HWF081, HWF083, HWF136, HWF141)
The Semo Wildfire Complex is located north of John D’Or Prairie and Fox Lake, and west of Garden River. A few of the wildfires in this complex are located within Caribou Mountains Provincial Park.
There are currently 574 firefighters and support personnel, 24 helicopters and 123 pieces of heavy equipment and water trucks working on the Semo Wildfire Complex.
HWF061 is a lightning-caused wildfire currently burning OUT OF CONTROL and was last estimated to be 106,503 hectares (ha). This wildfire is approximately 8.8 km northeast of the community boundary line of John D’Or Prairie, approximately 10.7 km north of the community boundary line of Fox Lake, and an estimated 1.7 km north of Highway 58.
HWF136 is currently BEING HELD at approximately 6,158 ha in size. This wildfire is located adjacent to Highway 58. It remains north of Highway 58 and is an estimated 13 km northwest of Garden River. Being held means that this fire is not expected to grow beyond established boundaries under the current conditions.
HWF053 is classified as BEING HELD. This wildfire is located north of HWF061 and is estimated to be 709 ha in size.
Other fires on this complex are within or nearby Caribou Mountain Wildland Provincial Park. Most of these wildfires have been determined to be caused by lightning, but the other wildfires remain under investigation. These fires will be monitored by fire personnel, with aircraft and further support as required. These wildfires include: HWF141, which is classified as BEING HELD north of HWF061 and east of HWF081, covering approximately 2,535 ha; HWF081, which is BEING HELD and is 50,461 ha; and HWF083, which is BEING HELD at 33,974 ha.
HWF072, which is burning OUT OF CONTROL, is located 45 km west of Zama City and 60 km northwest of Chateh. This fire is estimated to be 36,291 ha in size. Visibility remains good, allowing air and ground operations today.
There are approximately 120 firefighting personnel, 10 helicopters and two dozer groups (10 pieces) of heavy equipment assigned to HWF072. Heli-bucketing and heavy equipment operators continue working to enhance containment lines around the perimeter, while firefighters continue to work on hotspots. The cause of HWF072 has been determined to be lightning.
HWF092 is now UNDER CONTROL. This wildfire is located north of the Town of High Level and is estimated to be 49.40 ha in size. Today, no fire crews were assigned to HWF092 (UC); however, 54 firefighters and four helicopters were assigned to HWF047, working to extinguish this fire, which is also north of the Town of High Level and UNDER CONTROL, and covers an area of 1707 ha.
HTZ001 (bordering on the N.W.T. to the north), which included previous areas of concern to the NE and SE of Bistcho Lake, is classified as BEING HELD and is being monitored closely. Please see NWT Wildfire Update Map and the South Slave SS009-24 Update for more information on the status of this and other fires on the N.W.T. side of the border.
*No growth has been observed on the above-noted wildfires and none currently threaten communities. To view these and other wildfires in Alberta, view our interactive map by following the active wildfire link.
