Government mail service may be affected by the Canada Post labour disruption. Learn about how critical government mail will be handled.
High wildfire danger
The wildfire danger in the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area is high. Very strong winds and dry vegetation are contributing to an increased risk.
Wildfire situation
RWF036 remains classified as out of control and has grown to approximately 1,028 hectares in size. This wildfire is located about 5 km north of the James-Wilson Provincial Recreation Area. The area continues to experience significant winds, which are increasing wildfire activity and creating challenges for containment efforts. Firefighters continue to be supported by airtankers, helicopters and heavy equipment. Heavy equipment will continue working overnight with support from night vision-equipped helicopters. Smoke from this wildfire is visible from nearby communities; however, there is currently no risk to nearby communities.
Clearwater County has issued an evacuation alert for an area surrounding the wildfire.
Due to the proximity of this wildfire to Highway 40 (Forestry Trunk Road), portions of the highway are now closed. Visit 511Alberta for current road closure information and updates.
For up-to-date information on wildfire locations, status, size and statistics, visit the Alberta Wildfire Status Dashboard. By adjusting settings and layers on this site, you can also view Forest Area boundaries, active fire advisories, restrictions and bans, wildfire danger ratings and much more.
May long weekend
The Rocky Mountain House Forest Area encourages everyone spending time in the west country this long weekend to enjoy the outdoors responsibly. Wildfire prevention is a shared responsibility.
If you are having a campfire, ensure it is fully extinguished before leaving your site. Annually, abandoned campfires account for a large portion of the human-caused wildfires in Alberta. These fires are preventable. Be sure to properly extinguish your campfire by soaking the area, stirring the ashes and soaking it again until it is cool to the touch.
When using off-highway vehicles, take care to avoid dry vegetation, as hot equipment can start a wildfire. Stop regularly to check for debris buildup.
Share your feedback on forest area updates
Forest area updates, like this one, help keep Albertans informed about wildfire conditions. Your feedback is important. It helps improve these updates and ensure they meet public needs. Please take a few minutes to complete a short survey and share your input.
Contact info
Allanah McLean
403-418-5023
[email protected]
Published on May 14, 2026 7:19 pm