Slave Lake Forest Area

Slave Lake Forest Area - April 17, 2025

Weather

For Thursday April 17, the temperature will be 9°C, with a relative humidity 25 percent. North westerly winds are expected at 10-20 km/h, with gusts reaching up to 35 km/h.

Wildfire situation

Since January 1, 2025, 17 wildfires have been reported in the Slave Lake Forest Area, resulting in a total burned area of 26.99 hectares.

Most wildfires were human caused, with the majority originating from winter burning projects. If you conducted a winter burn, return to the site and ensure the fires are completely extinguished.

Two new wildfires were detected yesterday. SWF017 has been extinguished. Alberta Wildfire is currently assisting with the Buffalo Bay Fire (SCU001), with 12 firefighters assigned to the incident. For ongoing updates, please check the Big Lakes County website.  

Firefighters burning 

Over the next several weeks, firefighters will be burning areas of dead dry grass around communities in the Slave Lake Forest Area. Burning is an efficient way to remove this extremely flammable fire fuel. Trained firefighters conduct these burns under specific weather conditions to ensure the fires are controlled and to minimize the impact of smoke to roadways and communities.

If you have any questions about these grass burns, contact Wildfire Information Officer Dan Troke 780-843-5772

Fire permits required

Alberta’s wildfire season began on March 1st. This means that fire permits are required for burning within the Forest Protection Area, excluding campfires.

Fire permits are free and can be requested online. You may also request your fire permit by calling your local Forestry Office. All existing fire permits remain valid. New permits will be issued on a case-by-case basis due to the existing fire advisory. 

• Slave Lake 780-849-7377
• High Prairie 780-523-6619
• Wabasca 780-891-3860

Fire permits help us track what is burning on the landscape. If you are burning without a fire permit or not following conditions on your fire permit, your fire could be considered a wildfire and you could be fined and may be responsible for the costs of fighting the wildfire.

Prevent wildfires

Human caused wildfires are preventable. Please do your part and follow these tips to help prevent wildfires:

• Check your winter burns – Fires started during the winter can smolder underground and reignite in the spring if not fully extinguished. Always ensure your winter burns are completely out.
• Get a fire permit before burning – A fire permit is required for any type of burning in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta. Contact your local Forestry office by calling 310-0000 or apply online for a free permit.
• Off-highway vehicles (OHVs) – Stop frequently to remove debris from hot spots on your vehicle. Always carry firefighting tools such as a shovel, pail, and extinguisher.
• Don’t park in tall grass – The heat from your vehicle’s muffler can ignite dry grass. Always park on bare ground or gravel.
• Use equipment safely – Operate spark-producing equipment away from dry grass and always have a shovel and water source on hand.
• Farming equipment – Clean debris from hot spots regularly and keep firefighting tools like a shovel, pail, and extinguisher nearby.