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Alberta.ca Account
Wildfire update

Grande Prairie Forest Area - June 09, 2025 - 1:30 pm

Report a wildfire: 
310-FIRE (3473)

Alberta Wildfire application:

Extreme wildfire danger

The fire danger in the Grande Prairie Forest area remains extreme. Forest vegetation is extremely dry and can easily ignite, and strong winds can quickly drive fires to spread rapidly and unpredictably. These conditions can result in fast-moving, high-intensity wildfires that are difficult to control.

GBZ001 (Kiskatinaw River wildfire) - Challenging wildfire conditions expected to continue today

Alberta Wildfire, BC Wildfire Service, and the County of Grande Prairie remain in unified command as they continue coordinated efforts to manage the Kiskatinaw River wildfire (GBZ001/G70422), which remains classified as out of control. The fire is estimated to be 21,679 hectares in size. The unified command is also working in close partnership with the Peace River Regional District to support a well-coordinated regional response.

Yesterday evening, the southeast section of the fire grew significantly towards the east. Today will be another challenging day as winds remain elevated and conditions remain very dry. Significant growth is anticipated again today, with westerly winds driving the perimeter towards the east.  However, fire behaviour today will be most heavily influenced by the lack of humidity. 

Crews and structure protection personnel remained in Kelly Lake overnight to defend homes and critical infrastructure. Fire behaviour was elevated through the night, driven by strong winds and low humidity. Today, structure protection and defense will continue in Kelly Lake and in the County of Grande Prairie. Safety of responders is a top priority; crews will stay in place as long as it is safe to do so.  

Heavy equipment is constructing contingency lines north of the fire perimeter. 

For further information on this wildfire and others in B.C., visit the BC Wildfire Service website.

Two helicopters are parked on an airfield under a clear sky. In the foreground, a dark grey helicopter with yellow tail markings is being inspected by a firefighter in yellow gear. In the background, a larger green and white helicopter is also on the tarmac, with grassy fields and hills visible beyond the runway. A night-vision-capable Dauphin helicopter (left) and a Sikorsky helicopter (right) are among the aircraft supporting the response to the Kiskatinaw River wildfire. Photo taken on June 8 in Dawson Creek, B.C. A helicopter performs a water bucket drop over a dense forest as thick smoke billows from a wildfire below. The smoke obscures much of the background, with flames hidden beneath the canopy. A K-MAX helicopter bucketing on the Kiskatinaw River wildfire on June 8. Photo: BC Wildfire Service

The County of Grande Prairie's evacuation order and alert remain 

The County of Grande Prairie has an evacuation order and an evacuation alert in effect.  For your safety, it's critical to follow all evacuation instructions, as wildfire conditions can change rapidly. Stay informed and be prepared to act immediately.

Grande Prairie Regional Emergency Partnership (GPREP) assisting evacuees

GPREP remains activated and is assisting evacuees living within the County of Grande Prairie. Updates can be found on their webpage and Facebook page.

Road reports

Highway 43 is currently open but subject to change if conditions worsen. Please visit 511 Alberta for the most up to date Alberta road reports, and DriveBC for British Columbia roads. 

Grande Prairie Forest Area statistics

Since January 1, there have been 39 wildfires in the Grande Prairie Forest Area, burning a total of 115 hectares.

Learn more about active wildfires, their locations and stats on the interactive map on our wildfire status page.

Fire ban

A fire ban remains in effect for the Grande Prairie Forest Area. Under this ban, all outdoor wood fires are prohibited and existing fire permits are suspended.

Prohibited: 

  • All outdoor wood fires, including wood campfires on public and private land, designated firepits and backyard firepits
  • Barbecue charcoal briquettes
  • Fireworks and exploding targets

Allowed: 

  • Propane fire pits and natural gas-powered appliances
  • Indoor wood fires
  • Open flame oil devices 

The fire ban will remain in place until conditions improve. For details and updates, visit albertafirebans.ca.

Evacuation preparedness

Have an emergency plan in case you and your family need to evacuate. Individuals and families should be prepared to take care of themselves for at least 72 hours. Be sure to also plan for your pets and livestock in case of an evacuation. 

  • Evacuation alert: Issued when there is a potential threat. This gives residents time to prepare so they are ready to act quickly by packing essentials, collecting important documents, fueling vehicles, making arrangements for pets and livestock, etc.
  • Evacuation order: Issued when there is an immediate risk to life or safety. Residents may be directed to leave the area immediately—there may be no time to gather belongings.

Wildfire smoke

Smoke may be visible and settling over our communities. Visit firesmoke.ca to see where the smoke is coming from. 

If you have smoke-related health concerns, call 811 or visit the Alberta Health website. 

Illegal use of drones near wildfires

Flying a drone near or over a wildfire endangers our pilots and forces us to ground aircraft, causing delays in firefighting operations. You could face a hefty fine for putting aircraft and people at risk. Please give our firefighters the space they need to do their jobs safely. 

For more information visit Transport Canada. 

Contact info

Kassey Zatko
780-538-5327
[email protected]

Published on June 9, 2025 1:27 pm