The fire danger level in the Slave Lake Forest Area is low. Wildfires can still start under the right conditions, even in colder seasons. Use caution when outdoors.
Wildfire situation
Since January 1, 69 wildfires burned a total of 41 hectares (ha) in the Slave Lake Forest Area. For up-to-date information on wildfire locations, status, size and statistics, visit the Alberta Wildfire Status Dashboard.
Across the province, 789 wildfires have burned 18,000 hectares in 2026, which is 35% lower than the five-year average of 1,219 wildfires and 98% less than the five-year average of 761,688 hectares burned.
Human activities remain the leading cause of wildfires in the province. In 2026, 62% of Alberta's wildfires were human caused, 34% were caused by lightning and 4% remain under investigation. These numbers may change as investigations continue.
With fewer wildfires in Alberta this year, many firefighters were tasked with wildfire prevention projects or deployed elsewhere to support wildfire response, while sufficient personnel remained pre-positioned across Alberta to respond to new wildfires. Alberta deployed more than 1,000 firefighters and support staff to help outside the province. This included British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, Ontario, Quebec, the United States and Australia.
We want to thank everyone who reported wildfires and those who helped keep our communities safe by preventing wildfires this season. If you see smoke or flame and suspect a wildfire, report it by calling 310-FIRE (3473).
End of wildfire season
Alberta's wildfire season has officially ended, and fire permits are not required for burning within the Forest Protection Area of Alberta until March 1. Wildfires can start any time of year when conditions are dry, so keep safe burning practices in mind year round.
Safe winter burning
Fire permits are no longer required, but following safe winter burning practices is always important.
- Wait until there is at least 15 cm of snow on the ground before taking on a burning project in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta.
- Listen to the weather forecast for snow conditions and wind predictions before you set your fire.
- Avoid burning when an inversion is forecasted. Inversions happen when cold air is trapped below a layer of warm air. They causes smoke to stay close to the ground, impacting visibility and possibly causing smoke-related health concerns.
- Actively manage burn projects to reduce total burning time and smoke impacts.
- Plan to return to check winter burn projects in early spring to ensure no heat remains.
Watch this video to learn more about how to prevent spring wildfires.
Alberta Forestry recruitment
A career with Alberta Forestry is unlike any other and it's about more than fighting wildfires.
Every year, we hire people with a wide range of skills, experience and backgrounds to support wildfire and forestry management operations across the province. You can explore current and upcoming opportunities on the Alberta Forestry recruitment webpage or visit us at one of the open houses in the province.
Slave Lake Forest Area recruitment open house
Drop by the Slave Lake Forest Area office between 10 am and 3pm on Saturday, November 7 to meet the people behind our firefighting and support roles, ask questions, learn about the equipment used on the fireline and more!
Contact info
Jody Lucius
780-805-0312
[email protected]
Published on November 2, 2026 3:59 pm