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Very High wildfire danger
The fire danger remains very high which means that in the event of a wildfire, firefighters are expecting to see an increase in fire behavior. Dry grass and vegetation will catch easily and burn quickly.
If you see smoke or flame in the forest and suspect it's a wildfire, or if you accidently start a wildfire, contact 310-FIRE as soon as possible to allow firefighters time to respond and assist in extinguishing the fire.
Mutual aid wildfire
Alberta Wildfire is assisting the County of Grande Prairie with wildfire GCU004 (Deer Ridge Estates Wildfire) located south of Grande Prairie. For further information on evacuations and the wildfire, visit the Grande Prairie Regional Emergency Partnership (GPREP) website.
Wildfire situation
Since January 1, there have been 23 wildfires in the Grande Prairie Forest Area burning a total of 9.48 hectares (ha). Learn more about wildfire status and view active wildfires, their locations and stats on the interactive map on our wildfire status page.
Firefighters often respond to "hot work" wildfires this time year, which can include lawnmowers, welders and grinders causing sparks or machinery producing hot exhaust or friction. We urge the public and industry to keep watch of their surroundings and keep sufficient water and firefighting equipment nearby when working or recreating outdoors. If possible, limit high risk activities during windy and elevated fire danger days to prevent wildfires. Otherwise, consider these activities early or late in the evening when conditions are less favorable for a wildfire.
Fire restriction
A fire restriction is in effect for the Grande Prairie Forest Area. Under this restriction, all outdoor wood fires are banned on public lands.
Prohibited:
- Outdoor wood fires on public lands including backcountry and random camping areas
- Any burning, other than a campfire on private land
- Fireworks and exploding targets
Allowed:
- Safe wood campfires on private land including provincial campgrounds with a designated fire ring
- Backyard firepits
- Propane fire pits and natural gas-powered appliances
- Barbecue charcoal briquettes
- Indoor wood fires
- Open flame oil devices
The fire restriction will remain in effect until conditions improve or further escalation is required. To learn more, visit albertafirebans.ca.
Prevent spring wildfires
As we continue to experience warm temperatures the grass and other vegetation dries out becoming highly flammable. We are urging everyone to use caution when working or recreating outdoors.
- When operating off-highway vehicles (OHVs) you should stop often to remove debris from hot spots on your vehicle.
- Avoid parking on tall grass as the heat from your vehicle’s muffler can ignite dry vegetation.
- Use equipment safely by keeping spark-producing machines away from dry grass.
- When using farming equipment make sure that you clean debris from hot spots regularly. Always carry sufficient water and firefighting tools such as a shovel, pail, and extinguisher.
- We encourage any landowners who have done burning over the winter and that have had past fire permits to revisit the burn location to ensure these fires are fully extinguished.
You can watch our video on how to prevent spring wildfires.
FireSmart your home, farm and acreage
Your actions today can minimize wildfire damage to your home and property tomorrow.
Flames aren’t the only threat. An estimated 90% of homes damaged or destroyed by wildfire are ignited by embers. By taking proactive FireSmart measures around your house and yard, you can increase your properties’ resistance to wildfire.
Visit the FireSmart Alberta website for information on how to get your journey started. If you have a farm or acreage, visit our magazine for tips on how to protect your property.
Understanding fire danger
The fire danger is based on the Canadian Fire Weather Index (FWI) System and is a widely used tool that provides a numerical rating of the potential fire intensity in forested areas. It gives firefighters a better picture of how likely a forest fire is to start, spread, and how intense it could be.
Find information and maps forecasting how conditions are expected to influence fire behaviour in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta on our website.
Contact info
Caroline Charbonneau
780-740-1341
[email protected]
Published on May 5, 2025 5:48 pm