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Whitecourt Forest Area - January 20, 2026
Low wildfire danger
The wildfire danger in the Whitecourt Forest Area is low. With warmer temperatures and strong winds expected to continue, melting snow may expose dry vegetation. If you conducted any burning activities over the winter, now is an important time to check those locations.
Safe winter burning
If you plan to burn this winter, we encourage you to follow our winter burning guidelines.
Here are some suggestions for safe burning:
- Waiting until there is a good snow cover (more than 15 cm) before taking on a new burn project
- Checking wind speeds of less than 15 km/h will lessen the chances of embers flying into nearby dry vegetation
- Burning in stages so it's more manageable
- Avoid burning when an inversion is forecasted. Inversions happen when cold air is trapped below a layer of warm air. It causes smoke to stay close to the ground, impacting visibility on roadways and possibly causing smoke-related health concerns
- Consulting your local municipality and ensuring your fire is properly managed and fully extinguished
If you are planning large-scale burning in the Whitecourt Forest Area, please notify us in advance. Reporting large-scale burns helps prevent firefighters from being dispatched to non-emergency fires. Call 780-778-7166 (leave a message if unanswered) and provide:
- Name of landowner or company, and representative
- Contact phone number
- Legal land description or latitude/longitude
Hiring for the 2026 wildfire season
Applications are now open for a variety of seasonal wildfire positions. Learn more about current openings, position requirements and how to apply on our recruitment page.
FireSmart Alberta Community Scorecard
Wildfire resilience starts with understanding the needs of the community. The FireSmart Alberta Community Scorecard helps communities assess wildfire preparedness, align with best practices, and track progress over time.
There are virtual training sessions now available for Alberta community representatives.
Wildfire Community Preparedness Day
Wildfire Community Preparedness Day is a national campaign that encourages citizens to take actions that increase their home, neighbourhood and community’s resilience to wildfire. Applications for the Wildfire Community Preparedness Day open November 1, 2025 and close January 31, 2026.
Published on January 20, 2026 11:16 am
Wildfire season runs March 1 – October 31.
Tree cutting permits are required to cut firewood and Christmas trees on public land. In Alberta they are free and available online.
A surprising number of wildfires start in the winter. Remember to follow safe burning practices, even after wildfire season ends.
Contact info
Colby Lachance
780-286-4332
[email protected]