The wildfire danger in the Edson Forest Area is now high due to dead and dry vegetation with little precipitation the past few days. While cooler temperatures reduce the risk, wildfires can still start and spread quickly under current conditions.
Wildfire situation
There are currently no active wildfires in the Edson Forest Area. Since January 1, there have been 57 wildfires in the Edson Forest Area burning a total of 26 hectares (ha). For up-to-date information on wildfire locations, status, size and statistics, visit the Alberta Wildfire Status Dashboard.
Cooking and warming fires
If you are planning on having a cooking and warming fire while recreating, ensure that it is fully extinguished before leaving the site. The forest area detects an increase in these types of fires this time of year caused unintentionally by recreationalists.
Ensure you build your fire on bare mineral soil, away from dead and dry grass. If not properly extinguished, the fire can spread even when the temperatures are below zero. An unextinguished campfire can burn deep into the soil where it can smoulder for long periods of time and resurface. This is common especially in the afternoon when temperatures increase and the frost or snow melts.
Harvesting operations
To operate safely in the forest area we recommend:
- Maintaining your equipment by continuously inspecting for any wear and tear
- Ensuring machine parts are well lubricated to reduce sparking potential
- Checking fluid levels on equipment like oil, coolant and other fluids to avoid overheating the engine components
- Stopping often to cool machines down during hot days
- Acknowledging that hay bales can spontaneously combust under hot and dry conditions. To avoid accidently starting a wildfire, consider baling outside the peak burning hours of (3 pm - 7 pm) as this is when wildfires are more likely to occur and spread quickly
- Always carry firefighting equipment with you like a fire extinguisher, shovel and water vessel
For more information on proactive measures you can take to prevent wildfires from starting on your property, check out the FireSmart Farm and Acreage magazine.
Join Forestry at a nearby event
Join Alberta Forestry to learn about wildfire prevention, operations and FireSmart recommendations. Stay tuned for more upcoming events.
- FireSmart Curbside Info Sessions:
- Bear Lake boat launch on October 1 from 5-7 pm.
- Two River Estates at the end of the cul-de-sac on Oct 2 from 5-7 pm.
- Obed at the end of Twp Road 531 on Oct 3 from 12-2 pm.
- Carldale at the end of the cul-de-sac on Oct 3 from 3-5 pm.
- Fire Prevention Week Open House hosted by the Yellowhead County Fire Department in Evansburg on October 4.
If you’re going to burn it, get a permit
Fire permits are required for all burning in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta until October 31, with the exception of campfires. To request your free fire permit, contact the local forest area at 780-723-8527 or you can request your permit online.
Contact info
Caroline Charbonneau
780-740-1341
[email protected]
Published on September 17, 2026 11:44 am