Wildfire

Effective at 2:00 p.m. today, Tuesday, August 27, 2024, the County of Grande Prairie Regional Fire Service has lifted the Fire Restriction that was put in place on July 29 for the entire County, along with the towns of Beaverlodge, Sexsmith and Wembley. This change aligns with Alberta Wildfire’s move to lift all advisories today.  

Due to cooler temperatures and recent rainfall, the County will not have any advisories in place as the fire danger in the region is now low.   

The town of Jasper says early numbers indicate last month’s wildfires destroyed $283 million worth of property.

The town also reports that while 358 structures were destroyed, mostly businesses and homes, the total number of housing units lost is about 800.

The figures were delivered to councillors by chief administrative officer Bill Given at a virtual meeting Tuesday.

Given said the numbers get even more daunting as the town moves forward with rebuilding because the lost structures equate to a $2.2-million loss in annual property tax revenue.

Due to substantial precipitation, the fire ban has been lifted for the Calgary Forest Area (CFA).

With the lifting of the ban at 4 p.m. yesterday, campfires are now allowed. Wildfire officials remind people to attend their campfires at all times and fully extinguish them before leaving.

Both the Burstall Lake wildfire in the Peter Lougheed Provincial Park and Fallentimber fire 25 km west of Water Valley remain under control with no change in their size.

Highway 16 through Jasper National Park has reopened to all traffic but with limited hours. Motorists will be able to proceed directly through the park with NO STOPPING between the hours of 7am to 9pm MT daily. 

Services such as fuel, food, and restrooms are unavailable and should be a consideration before travelling through the park.

Drivers are asked to obey all signs and posted speed limits as there is still ongoing fire suppression activities.

Cochrane may have reduced its fire status to an advisory, but so far, a fire ban remains in effect for Rocky View County.

That means incinerators for farm and acreage use, burning barrels, chimeneas, and recreational campfires are prohibited.

Fires contained within facilities and appliances in designated camping and recreational areas are also a no-no, and outstanding burning and fireworks permits are suspended until further notice.

The wet weather has changed everything in the Calgary Forest Area (CRA).

The average wildfire danger across CFA is now low, with some very high to extreme pockets remaining in the far south.

Saddle Hills County has issued an Evacuation Order and Alerts due to wildfires burning in Saddle Hills County. While the Alberta Emergency Alert is no longer active, both the Evacuation Order and Alerts are still in place.

The Burstall Lake Wildfire did not grow substantially overnight but remains classified as out of control.

The wildfire is located in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park about 10 km south of the Spray Lakes Reservoir. It is currently estimated at 1.2 hectares.

The fire was assessed at 8:17 p.m. on Aug. 2, and crews immediately responded and bucketed the wildfire. Active suppression continues.

UPDATE: Today, Parks Alberta closed the Burstall Pass Day Use Area and surrounding trails due to the wildfire.

An out-of-control wildfire has been detected in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park in Kananaskis Country by wildfire officials.

The fire is located northeast of Burnstall Lake, south of Horgath Lakes, and about seven km south of Mount Engadine Lodge.

Alberta’s government has launched an online portal so residents of Jasper whose homes have been lost or damaged by wildfire can register for a bus tour of the townsite.

Once they have registered via the online portal, residents will be contacted with further details.

Residents interested in touring the Town of Jasper can find the registration link online at Alberta.ca/emergency. All Jasper residents are invited to register; however, priority access will be given to people who have lost their homes.