Most of northern Alberta, including the northern and western part of Athabasca County, is under a fire ban and off-highway vehicle restriction.
The wildfire danger level has been set to extreme in the Lac La Biche Forest Area, which includes the northern and western part of the county.
A wildfire danger update issued at 6 p.m. May 16 states the fire ban and off-highway vehicle restriction has been set for areas including the Fort McMurray Forest Area south of Lake Athabasca, the Lac La Biche Forest Area, the northern regions of the Slave Lake Forest Area, most of the Peace River Forest Area and all of the High level Forest Area.
"All fire permits are suspended and no new fire permits will be issued," the update states.
It also states the following are prohibited:
- All open fires including campfires in campgrounds, backcountry and random camping areas and backyard fire pits.
- Charcoal briquettes, turkey fryers and tiki torches.
- Fireworks and exploding targets.
- The use of off-highway vehicles for recreational use on all public lands.
The update notes that off-highway vehicles are allowed for industrial use, agricultural use, and traditional use by Indigenous peoples, as well as use on private lands.
This fire season has seen 96 wildfires in the Lac La Biche forest area, according to the update.
The Town of Athabasca was still under a fire advisory as of May 17. For further information, see AlbertaFireBans.ca.
Athabasca County is still under a fire restriction as of May 17, and county communications co-ordinator Karl Kopan said it would not change over the long weekend.
"Conditions are expected to remain the same over the course of the weekend," he said.
He said the county's restriction is only on the southern part of the county, while the rest is under a fire ban. A map of the division can be found here on Athabasca County's website.
Further information on the county's fire hazard status can be found here.
For more updates as the weekend continues, visit the Lac La Biche Forest Area update page. A full map with fire bans, restrictions and advisories can be found at AlbertaFireBans.ca.
