Grande Prairie Forest Area

Recruitment open house 

Are you interested in becoming a wildland firefighter with Alberta Wildfire for the upcoming season? Applications are now open!

Alberta Wildfire will be hosting a Wildland Firefighter Recruitment Open House on Friday, November 20 and Saturday, November 21 at the Grande Prairie Forestry Building, 10925 84 Ave, from noon to 4:00 p.m.

Wildfire staff will be in attendance to answer questions and provide information about the opportunities available. Guests will also have the opportunity to see and test some of the equipment they may work with on the fireline.

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 to 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 

Hunting season 

If you're heading out into the forest to hunt and you're having a campfire, keep your campfires small, safe and always attended. Before leaving the site or going to bed, ensure your campfire is completely extinguished. Soak the fire with water, stir the ashes and soak it again to ensure it’s out. The fire is fully extinguished when you can no longer feel any heat from the ashes. If operating off-highway vehicles, stop often to check for and remove grass or other debris that can build up around your machine’s exhaust and hot spots. Carry firefighting tools such as a shovel, pail and extinguisher.

If you're going to burn it, get a permit 

A fire permit is required for any burning within the Forest Protection Area (FPA), except for campfires. Permits are required during wildfire season, from March 1 to October 31. Fire permits are free and can be requested online or by calling the Grande Prairie Forestry office at 780-538-5260. As a reminder, if the wind is gusting over 15 km/h or increases beyond the limit on your permit, immediately extinguish your fire. 

For more wildfire information across Alberta, including location, status and size, visit the Alberta Wildfire Status Dashboard.