ALERT: Effective at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, May 5, 2025, the County of Grande Prairie Regional Fire Service will be issuing a Fire Ban for the entire County, along with the towns of Beaverlodge, Sexsmith and Wembley. The Fire Ban replaces the former Fire Restriction issued on April 30.
Fire Advisories, Restrictions and Bans
Updated - May 1, 2025
FIRE BAN
Fire Ban Issued
Effective at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, May 5, 2025, the County of Grande Prairie Regional Fire Service will be issuing a Fire Ban for the entire County, along with the towns of Beaverlodge, Sexsmith and Wembley. The Fire Ban replaces the former Fire Restriction issued on April 30.
The Fire Ban is due to dry conditions and recent wildfire activity in the region. The current fire hazard is extreme, and the County Regional Fire Service has responded to multiple wildfires in the last 72 hours, including the Morgan’s Mountain and the Deer Ridge Estates wildfires.
Existing burning permits are revoked, and no new fire permits will be issued until the ban is lifted. All fires currently burning must be extinguished immediately. Some allowances can be made for essential agricultural and industrial burning, if approved by a forest officer.
Under the ban, all outdoor fires are prohibited, including:
- Recreational fire pits, fires using charcoal briquettes, and any fires in County-operated parks and campgrounds.
- Open pit burning
- Burning barrels
- Burning of refuse
- Brush piles and crop stubble
- Fireworks
The use of propane appliances, such as barbecues, is permitted.
For industry, open pit flaring is suspended.
The fire ban will remain in effect until conditions improve. Read more about the current fire ban status at www.countygp.ab.ca/fireban. View all current fire restrictions and bans in place across the province at www.albertafirebans.ca.
Fire Permits
Residents in the Town of Wembley do NOT require a fire permit for recreational fire pits. Fire advisories, Fire Restrictions and Fire Bans put in place by the County of Grande Prairie DO apply within Town limits. Industrial burn permits are issued on a case-by-case basis within town limits. For any questions regarding industrial burning, please contact the Wembley Fire Department directly at 780-766-3170.
Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for a list of materials that are not permitted to be burned within Town limits.
Are you located outside the Town of Wembley? Residents in the County of Grande Prairie require a valid fire permit for any burning, including recreational fire pits, burn barrels, incinerators, and brush piles.
To contact a Fire Guardian about obtaining a fire permit in the County of Grande Prairie, click the link here - County of Grande Prairie Fire Guardians.
Town of Wembley Fire Pit Criteria
In the Town of Wembley, a residential fire pit must meet the following criteria:
- A minimum of 3-metres (10ft) of clearance, measured from the nearest fire pit edge, is maintained from buildings, property lines, or other combustible material
- A minimum of one and a half times the height of the fire pit of noncombustible material surrounding the outer perimeter of the fire pit
- The fire pit height does not exceed 0.6 meters (2ft) when measured from the surrounding grade to the top of the pit opening
- The fire pit opening does not exceed 1 meters (3ft) in width or in diameter when measured between the widest points or outside edges
- The fire pit installation has enclosed sides made from bricks, concrete blocks, heavy gauge metal, or other non-combustible materials
- A spark arrester mesh screen with openings no larger than 1.25 cm (0.5") and constructed of expanded metal (or equivalent non-combustible material) is used to cover the fire opening in a manner sufficient to contain and reduce the hazards of airborne sparks
- The fire pit is not located over any underground utilities or under any above-ground wires
Forest Protection Area
Updated May 7, 2025
Fire Ban
A fire ban is in effect for the Grande Prairie Forest Area. Under this ban, all outdoor wood fires are prohibited and existing fire permits are suspended.
Prohibited:
• All outdoor wood fires, including wood campfires on public and private land, designated firepits and backyard firepits
• Barbecue charcoal briquettes
• Fireworks and exploding targets
Allowed:
• Propane fire pits and natural gas-powered appliances
• Indoor wood fires
• Open flame oil devices
The fire ban will remain in effect until conditions improve. To learn more, visit albertafirebans.ca
Wildfire Situation
Since January 1 there have been 24 wildfires in the Grande Prairie Forest Area burning a total of 9.49 hectares (ha). The Grande Prairie Forest area currently has one wildfire, GWF024, which is under control.
Firefighters often respond to "hot work" wildfires this time year, which can include lawnmowers, welders and grinders causing sparks or machinery producing hot exhaust or friction. We urge the public and industry to keep watch of their surroundings and keep sufficient water and firefighting equipment nearby when working or recreating outdoors. If possible, limit high risk activities during windy and elevated fire danger days to prevent wildfires. Otherwise, consider these activities early in the morning or late in the evening when conditions are less favorable for a wildfire.
Understanding Fire Danger
The fire danger is based on the Canadian Fire Weather Index (FWI) System and is a widely used tool that provides a numerical rating of the potential fire intensity in forested areas. It gives firefighters a better picture of how likely a forest fire is to start, spread, and how intense it could be.
Find information and maps forecasting how conditions are expected to influence fire behaviour in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta on our website.
Find wildfire information
We've updated the Alberta Wildfire Status Dashboard. This interactive map and display provides wildfire locations, statistics and more in one convenient location.
The AB Wildfire Status app remains the best option to view wildfire information on a mobile device.
Apple Store
Google Play
Published on May 7, 2025 6:06 pm
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TODAY'S FIRE DANGER FOR THE COUNTY OF GRANDE PRAIRIE AREA IS