Wood Buffalo National Park wildfire updates

Updates on fires within Wood Buffalo National Park will be released by 1:00 p.m. MT daily, unless the situation changes. Additional updates with more in-depth information on fires of note will be released by 8:00 p.m. MT as needed.

Parks Canada will now be referring to all 14 lightning-caused fires confirmed last week as the Davidson -Pine Lake Complex. Fire 8, 9, 13, and 14 are the Davidson Lake Fires, and Fire 2 and Fire 7 are the Pine Lake Fires. This change was made for clarity and helps us better communicate progress to the public.

Davidson-Pine Lake Complex

No new fires have been detected since yesterday’s update. There are 66 fire personnel, four dozers and five helicopters responding to the Davidson-Pine Lake Complex today.

A Parks Canada Incident Management is now fully in place and will be managing the Davidson-Pine Lake Complex moving forward.

Davidson Lake Fires (Fires 8, 9, 13 and 14)

There is no current risk to Garden River from the Davidson Lake fires. The fires in the Davidson Lake area are approximately 29,777 hectares combined and located 26 km northeast of Garden River.

Yesterday morning, Parks Canada fire specialists hosted a community meeting in Garden River to discuss containment options along the eastern edge of Fire 14, the largest of the Davidson Lake Fires, protecting structures and answered community questions and concerns. Parks Canada fire personnel will monitor for ignition opportunities in the Trident Creek area, as fire behaviour permits. A team leader for heavy equipment is stationed in Garden River, along with 4 dozers, an excavator and a water tender. Crews continue to maintain sprinkler systems that were installed to protect cabins in the area.

While the area received some rain yesterday morning, the Davidson Lake Fires have not seen any significant rainfall and extreme dry conditions will continue today.

Pine Lake Fires (Fire 2 and Fire 7)

Fire 2 was last estimated at 12,077 hectares and is within 9 km of Pine Lake. This fire is 70 km from Fort Smith and poses no risk to the community at this time.

Crews completed refreshing fuel breaks and continue to maintain sprinkler lines on all values in the Pine Lake area.

There continues to be an area and road closure in place for Pine Lake Road from Parsons Lake Road to Peace Point. Access to the Pine Lake area is prohibited until further notice.

Fire 7 was approximately 5,047 hectares at its last mapping and is 11 km northwest of Pine Lake.

For full updates on the Paskwa Wildfire, please visit: https://srd.web.alberta.ca/high-level-area-update

All other confirmed fires are being monitored by Wood Buffalo National Park fire personnel. Up-to-date size estimates and locations are available on our Fire Status Map.

If you have a cabin in Wood Buffalo National Park and need more information, please send an email to wbnpfire-feupnwb@pc.gc.ca or call Alyssa Etsell at 867-621-0764.

Report suspicious smoke or wildfires to the Wood Buffalo National Park Fire Duty Officer at 867-621-0136.

Closures and Fire Bans

Pine Lake Road from Parsons Lake Road to Peace Point is CLOSED, which includes ALL of the Pine Lake area. The closure is in effect until further notice.

A recreational fire ban is in place for all visitor facilities in Wood Buffalo National Park. This includes all day-use areas and Pine Lake Campground.

Weather Forecast

Today’s forecast calls for dry and windy conditions, with winds gusting up to 50 km/h from the south/southwest. A continued drying trend and climbing temperatures are expected in the coming days.

For further information, contact:

Alyssa Etsell
Fire Information Officer – Wood Buffalo National Park
wbnpfire-feupnbwb@pc.gc.ca
867-621-0764

Report wildfires or suspicious smoke to the Fire Duty Officer at 867-621-0136.

Updates on fires within Wood Buffalo National Park will be released by 1:00 p.m. MT daily, unless the situation changes. Additional updates with more in-depth information on fires of note will be released by 8:00 p.m. MT as needed.

Parks Canada will now be referring to all 14 lightning-caused fires confirmed last week as the Davidson -Pine Lake Complex and will be referring to Fire 2 and Fire 7 as the Pine Lake Fires, and Fire 8, 9, 13, and 14 as the Davidson Lake Fires. This change was made for clarity and will help the incoming Incident Management Team to better communicate progress to the public.

Davidson-Pine Lake Complex

No new fires have been detected since yesterday’s update. There are 73 fire personnel, four dozers and five helicopters responding to the Davidson-Pine Lake Complex today.

A full Parks Canada Incident Management Team arrives this afternoon and will be managing the Davidson-Pine Lake Complex moving forward.

Davidson Lake Fires (Fires 8, 9, 13 and 14)

There is no current risk to Garden River from the Davidson Lake fires.

The fires in the Davidson Lake area are approximately 29,777 hectares combined and located 26 km northeast of Garden River. After being unable to view the fire due to heavy smoke, fire personnel were able to map a more accurate perimeter of the fires earlier this week.

The Davidson Lake Fires have not seen any significant rainfall and extreme dry conditions in this area continue. Fire specialists will continue discussing potential containment options along the eastern edge of Fire 14 with Little Red River Cree Nation. These options could include ignition work and putting in fuel breaks using heavy equipment like dozers. There will be a community meeting in Garden River today at 10:00 a.m. to discuss options and listen to community concerns. Proposed plans to be discussed with the community before work begins.

In the last week, crews have installed structure protection on over 12 cabins in the area. They’ve been visiting and maintaining these sprinkler systems and will continue this work today.

Pine Lake Fires (Fire 2 and Fire 7)

Fire 2 was last estimated at 12,077 hectares and is within 9 km of Pine Lake. This fire is 70 km from Fort Smith and poses no risk to the community at this time.

Crews continued to maintain sprinkler lines on all values in the Pine Lake area and will complete an inventory of the structure protection in place today.

Four dozers completed refreshing fuel breaks yesterday, which means one small fuel break is the only one left to do. Winds are forecast to be favourable today to carry out strategic ignition lines in a few areas, and fire specialists will implement that work if conditions allow.

Higher humidity and some precipitation helped to reduce fire behaviour in the last two days. However, given the extreme drought conditions within Wood Buffalo National Park, and with high temperatures and no precipitation in the forecast this week, we expect more extreme fire behaviour to return.

There continues to be an area and road closure in place for Pine Lake Road from Parsons Lake Road to Peace Point. Access to the Pine Lake Area is prohibited until further notice.

Fire 7 was approximately 5,047 hectares at its last mapping and is around 11 km northwest of Pine Lake.

Fire 1 (Paskwa Wildfire – Fox Lake, Alberta) crossed into Wood Buffalo National Park along the park’s southwestern boundary on May 26, 2023. This fire started in the community of Fox Lake in early May and is being actively managed by Alberta Wildfire. The Incident Management Team (IMT) managing operations on the Paskwa Wildfire is working in consultation with Wood Buffalo National Park to limit fire spread within the park and protect Garden River. For full updates on the Paskwa Fire, please visit: https://srd.web.alberta.ca/high-level-area-update

All other confirmed fires are being monitored by Wood Buffalo National Park fire personnel and structure protection will be put in place around values-at-risk in the area if needed. These include fires 10, 11, 12, 3 and 4.

If you have a cabin in Wood Buffalo National Park and want to know if it’s registered with Parks Canada or would like to know how close any of the active fires are, please send an email to wbnpfire-feupnwb@pc.gc.ca or call Alyssa Etsell at 867-621-0764.

Report suspicious smoke or wildfires to the Wood Buffalo National Park Fire Duty Officer at 867-621-0136.

Closures and Fire Bans

Pine Lake Road from Parsons Lake Road to Peace Point is CLOSED, which includes ALL of the Pine Lake area. This is a precautionary measure to give fire personnel space while they work to contain Fire 2. The closure is effective June 1, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. until further notice.

A recreational fire ban is in place for all visitor facilities in Wood Buffalo National Park. This includes all day-use areas and Pine Lake Campground.

Weather Forecast

There is little to no precipitation in the forecast for today in the Wood Buffalo National Park area, with strong, gusty winds from the southwest. The next few days will see drier conditions and climbing temperatures. Environment and Climate Change Canada weather forecasts can be found here:

• Fort Chipewyan
• Fort Smith

For further information, contact:

Alyssa Etsell
Fire Information Officer – Wood Buffalo National Park
alyssa.etsell@pc.gc.ca
867-621-0764

Report wildfires or suspicious smoke to the Fire Duty Officer at 867-621-0136.

Updates on fires within Wood Buffalo National Park will be released by 1:00 p.m. MT daily, unless the situation changes. Additional updates with more in-depth information on fires of note will be released by 8:00 p.m. MT as needed.

Fire Danger Status: Very High

Parks Canada will now be referring to all 14 lightning-caused fires confirmed last week as the Pine Lake-Davidson Complex and will be referring to Fire 2 and Fire 7 as the Pine Lake Branch, and Fire 8, 9, 13, and 14 as the Davidson Branch. This change was made for clarity and will help the incoming Incident Management Team to better organize operations.

Pine Lake-Davidson Complex

There are currently 14 confirmed fires in Wood Buffalo National Park. No new fires have been detected since yesterday’s update. There are 48 fire personnel, four dozers and five helicopters responding to the Pine Lake-Davidson Complex.

Two more fire specialists from other Parks Canada places arrived yesterday, and a full Parks Canada Incident Management Team will be arriving tomorrow afternoon and will be managing the Pine Lake-Davidson Complex moving forward.

Pine Lake Branch (Fire 2 and Fire 7)

Fire 2 was last estimated at 12,077 hectares and is within 9 km of Pine Lake. This fire is 70 km from Fort Smith and poses no risk to the community at this time.

Good news from yesterday:

- Fire 2 received approximately 4.2 mm of rain
- Crews completed structure protection on all values in the Pine Lake area
- Four dozers continued to refresh fuel breaks and only have two more to complete
- Fire personnel were able to map the fire perimeter more accurately

Higher humidity and some precipitation may provide a window for crews to work on the ground this week to suppress and limit fire growth in key areas. However, given the extreme drought conditions within Wood Buffalo National Park, we may see more extreme fire behaviour return without more precipitation.

There continues to be an area and road closure in place for Pine Lake Road from Parsons Lake Road to Peace Point. Access to the Pine Lake Area is prohibited until further notice.

Fire 7 was approximately 5,047 hectares at its last mapping and is around 11 km northwest of Pine Lake.

Davidson Branch (Fires 8, 9, 13 and 14)

There is no current risk to Garden River from the Davidson Branch fires. The fires in the Davidson Lake area are approximately 29,777 hectares combined and located 26 km northeast of Garden River. There were challenges last week with poor visibility and our ability to map and monitor these fires because of smoke conditions. Yesterday, Wood Buffalo National Park fire personnel mapped a more accurate perimeter of the fires and observed more moderate fire behaviour like surface fire with a few torching trees, likely due to higher humidity and lower temperatures. Fire specialists will be discussing potential containment options along the eastern edge of Fire 14 with Little Red River Cree First Nation this week. These options could include ignition work and putting in fuel breaks using heavy equipment like dozers.

In the past few days, crews have installed structure protection on over 12 cabins in the area. They’ve been visiting and maintaining the sprinkler systems for the last two days and will continue this work today.

Fire 1 (Paskwa Wildfire – Fox Lake, Alberta) crossed into Wood Buffalo National Park along the park’s southwestern boundary on May 26, 2023. This fire started in the community of Fox Lake in early May and is being actively managed by Alberta Wildfire. The Incident Management Team (IMT) managing operations on the Paskwa Wildfire is working in consultation with Wood Buffalo National Park to limit fire spread within the park and protect Garden River. For full updates on the Paskwa Fire, please visit: https://srd.web.alberta.ca/high-level-area-update

All other confirmed fires are being monitored by Wood Buffalo National Park fire personnel and structure protection will be put in place around values-at-risk in the area if needed. These include fires 10, 11, 12, 3 and 4.

If you have a cabin in Wood Buffalo National Park and want to know if it’s registered with Parks Canada or would like to know how close any of the active fires are, please send an email to wbnpfire-feupnwb@pc.gc.ca or call Alyssa Etsell at 867-621-0764.

Report suspicious smoke or wildfires to the Wood Buffalo National Park Fire Duty Officer at 867-621-0136.

Closures and Fire Bans

Pine Lake Road from Parsons Lake Road to Peace Point is CLOSED, which includes ALL of the Pine Lake area. This is a precautionary measure to give fire personnel space while they work to contain Fire 2. The closure is effective June 1, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. until further notice.

A recreational fire ban is in place for all visitor facilities in Wood Buffalo National Park. This includes all day-use areas and Pine Lake Campground.

Weather Forecast

The temperature today in Wood Buffalo National Park is forecasted to remain in the low 20s with some possible precipitation and a chance of a thunderstorm. Environment and Climate Change Canada weather forecasts can be found here:

• Fort Chipewyan
• Fort Smith

Smoke forecasts and air quality:

• Current smoke forecasts
• Environment Canada Air Quality Health Index

For further information, contact:

Alyssa Etsell
Fire Information Officer – Wood Buffalo National Park
alyssa.etsell@pc.gc.ca
867-621-0764

Report wildfires or suspicious smoke to the Fire Duty Officer at 867-621-0136.

Updates on fires within Wood Buffalo National Park will be released by 1:00 p.m. MT daily, unless the situation changes. Additional updates with more in-depth information on fires of note will be released by 8:00 p.m. MT as needed.

There are currently 14 confirmed fires in Wood Buffalo National Park. No new fires have been detected since yesterday’s update. There are 52 fire personnel, and five helicopters responding to wildfires within Wood Buffalo National Park today.

Today will potentially see reduced fire behaviour, with cooler temperatures expected and a chance of 3-5mm of rain across the park.

Two more fire specialists from other Parks Canada places are arriving today to help with ignition and heavy equipment work.

Fires of note:

• Fire 2 was last estimated at 10,400 hectares and is within 9 km of Pine Lake. Weather conditions continued to provide more moderate fire behaviour yesterday on Fire 2. Four dozers were successful again at refreshing two more previous fuel breaks around Pine Lake and will begin work today on two more. Crews continued to run and maintain structure protection systems they’ve set up in the Pine Lake area yesterday and started FireSmarting work in some areas. Yesterday, this fire attempted to grow to the southwest, but ran into old burn from 2019 which acted as a fuel break. Specialists have planned strategic ignition lines in a few areas, and will implement that work in the coming days, as conditions allow. With better humidity levels and a potential for rain in today’s forecast, bucketing may be possible to work on limited spread of the fire on the northwestern end. This weather may also provide a window for crews to work on the ground to suppress and limit fire growth in key areas.
• There are two helicopters, a water tender, four dozers and eight fire personnel responding to this fire.
• There continues to be an area and road closure in place for Pine Lake Road from Parsons Lake Road to Peace Point. Access to the Pine Lake Area is now prohibited.
• This fire is 70 km from Fort Smith and poses no risk to the community at this time.
• Davidson Complex (Fires 8, 9, 13 and 14) is around 28,615 hectares combined and located in the Davidson Lake area of Wood Buffalo National Park, 26 km northeast of Garden River. Fire growth yesterday was mostly limited to the northern edge. There is no current risk to Garden River from the Davidson Complex. Poor visibility due to smoke created challenges earlier this week with monitoring this complex, but specialists were able to fly and plan strategic control lines on Friday. Fire personnel are now discussing potential containment options with members of the Little Red River Cree Emergency Management Team in Garden River. These options could include doing ignition work and putting in fuel breaks using heavy equipment like dozers.
• Yesterday, crews visited at-risk cabins in the area to service and maintain sprinkler systems previously put in place and installed additional structure protection on other at-risk cabins.
• Fire 1 (Paskwa Wildfire – Fox Lake, Alberta) crossed into Wood Buffalo National Park along the park’s southwestern boundary on May 26, 2023. This fire started in the community of Fox Lake in early May and is being actively managed by Alberta Wildfire. The Incident Management Team (IMT) managing operations on the Paskwa Wildfire is working in consultation with Wood Buffalo National Park to limit fire spread within the park and protect Garden River. For full updates on the Paskwa Fire, please visit: https://srd.web.alberta.ca/high-level-area-update

Other confirmed fires:

• Fire 5 and Fire 6 are small spot fires located off the eastern side of Pine Lake Road. On May 29, crews were successful at containing these fires, which are now classified as Under Control. A crew will patrol these fires later this week.

All other confirmed fires are being monitored by Wood Buffalo National Park fire personnel and, as visibility allows, structure protection will be put in place around values-at-risk in the area if needed. These include fires 7, 10, 11, 12, 3 and 4.

You can view up-to-date size estimates and locations in the attached Fire Status Map.

Note: Smoky conditions throughout Wood Buffalo National Park have been creating poor visibility and presenting challenges. These visibility issues are making detection, monitoring and suppression more difficult.

It is especially important to report suspicious smoke or wildfires if you see them while travelling in the park. Call the Wood Buffalo National Park Fire Duty Officer at 867-621-0136.

Closures and Fire Bans

Pine Lake Road from Parsons Lake Road to Peace Point is CLOSED, which includes ALL of the Pine Lake area. This is a precautionary measure to give fire personnel space while they work to contain Fire 2. The closure is effective June 1, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. until further notice.

A recreational fire ban is in place for all visitor facilities in Wood Buffalo National Park. This includes all day-use areas and Pine Lake Campground.

Weather Forecast

The temperature today in Wood Buffalo National Park is forecasted to provide some relief, with higher humidity levels, cooler weather and a potential for some minimal precipitation.

Smoky conditions often accompany wildfires and are expected throughout the region today. The direction and amount of smoke in an area depends on weather and changes in wind direction.

Smoke forecasts and air quality:

• Current smoke forecasts
• Canada’s Wildfire Smoke Prediction System (FireWork)
• Environment Canada Air Quality Health Index

For further information, contact:

Alyssa Etsell
Fire Information Officer – Wood Buffalo National Park
alyssa.etsell@pc.gc.ca
867-621-0764

Report wildfires or suspicious smoke to the Fire Duty Officer at 867-621-0136.

Updates on fires within Wood Buffalo National Park will be released by 1:00 p.m. MT daily, unless the situation changes. Additional updates with more in-depth information on fires of note will be released by 8:00 p.m. MT as needed.

There are currently 14 confirmed fires in Wood Buffalo National Park. No new fires have been detected since yesterday’s update. There are 43 fire personnel, and five helicopters responding to wildfires within Wood Buffalo National Park today.

There continues to be an area and road closure in place for Pine Lake Road from Parsons Lake Road to Peace Point. Access to the Pine Lake Area is now prohibited.

Fires of note:

• Fire 2 was last estimated at 10,400 hectares yesterday afternoon. This fire is within 9 km of Pine Lake. Winds and weather conditions yesterday led to more moderate fire behaviour than seen for the past few days. Fire personnel planned a few strategic ignition lines which will include backburning to create fuel breaks. Ignition will be implemented over the weekend if conditions allow. Crews were successful on Thursday at putting structure protection in place on all private cabins and other values in the Pine Lake area. Yesterday, they tested the interconnected sprinkler systems and set up an additional sprinkler line along the road to Pine Lake Campground. Today, crews will do some FireSmarting in the area and set up more structure protection as needed. Four dozers worked on renewing older fire guards around Pine Lake yesterday and were successful at completing another full guard – they’ll continue this work today.
• There are two helicopters, a water tender, four dozers and eight fire personnel responding to this fire. Fire behaviour and availability permitting, air tankers may be called in.
• The area closure for Pine Lake was put in as a precautionary measure. This will continue to give fire personnel space while they work.
• This fire is 70 km from Fort Smith and poses no risk to the community at this time.
• Davidson Complex (Fires 8, 9, 13 and 14) is around 22,000 hectares combined and located in the Davidson Lake area of Wood Buffalo National Park, 28 km northeast of Garden River. There is no current risk to Garden River from the Davidson Complex. Poor visibility due to smoke has created challenges with monitoring this fire, but fire personnel were able to fly the area yesterday. Specialists will use the information gathered from the flight to lay out potential control lines and start looking at bringing in extra resources to begin containment options. Crews were also able to return to the area today and service sprinkler systems previously put in place on at-risk cabins and install additional structure protection on other at-risk cabins.
• Fire 1 (Paskwa Wildfire – Fox Lake, Alberta) crossed into Wood Buffalo National Park along the park’s southwestern boundary on May 26, 2023. This fire started in the community of Fox Lake in early May and is being actively managed by Alberta Wildfire. The Incident Management Team (IMT) managing operations on the Paskwa Wildfire is working in consultation with Wood Buffalo National Park to limit fire spread within the park and protect Garden River. For full updates on the Paskwa Fire, please visit: https://srd.web.alberta.ca/high-level-area-update

Other confirmed fires:

• Fire 5 and Fire 6 are small spot fires located off the eastern side of Pine Lake Road. On May 29, crews were successful at containing these fires, which are now classified as Under Control. A crew will patrol these fires later this week.
• Fire 7 is approximately 970 hectares and 11 km to the northwest of Pine Lake.
• Fire 11’s last recorded size was 6,844 hectares. The fire is being monitored by Wood Buffalo National Park fire personnel. Structure protection will be put in place around values in the area if needed.

All other confirmed fires are being monitored by Wood Buffalo National Park fire personnel and, as visibility allows, structure protection will be put in place around values-at-risk in the area if needed. These include fires 7, 10, 12, 3 and 4.

You can view up-to-date size estimates and locations in the attached Fire Status Map.

Note: Smoky conditions throughout Wood Buffalo National Park have been creating poor visibility and presenting challenges. These visibility issues are making detection, monitoring and suppression more difficult.

It is especially important to report suspicious smoke or wildfires if you see them while travelling in the park. Call the Wood Buffalo National Park Fire Duty Officer at 867-621-0136.

Closures and Fire Bans

Pine Lake Road from Parsons Lake Road to Peace Point is CLOSED, which includes ALL of the Pine Lake area. This is a precautionary measure to give fire personnel space while they work to contain Fire 2. The closure is effective June 1, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. until further notice.

A recreational fire ban is in place for all visitor facilities in Wood Buffalo National Park. This includes all day-use areas and Pine Lake Campground.

Weather Forecast

The temperature today in Wood Buffalo National Park is forecasted to be around 25 degrees, with no precipitation. The weather will remain hot and dry. Environment and Climate Change Canada weather forecasts can be found here:

• Fort Chipewyan
• Fort Smith

Smoky conditions often accompany wildfires and are expected throughout the region today. The direction and amount of smoke in an area depends on weather and changes in wind direction.

Smoke forecasts and air quality:

• Current smoke forecasts
• Canada’s Wildfire Smoke Prediction System (FireWork)
• Environment Canada Air Quality Health Index

For further information, contact:

Alyssa Etsell
Fire Information Officer – Wood Buffalo National Park
alyssa.etsell@pc.gc.ca
867-621-0764

Report wildfires or suspicious smoke to the Fire Duty Officer at 867-621-0136.

Updates on fires within Wood Buffalo National Park will be released by 1:00 p.m. MT daily, unless the situation changes. Additional updates with more in-depth information on fires of note will be released by 8:00 p.m. MT as needed.

There are currently 14 confirmed fires in Wood Buffalo National Park. No new fires have been detected since yesterday’s update. There are 49 fire personnel, and five helicopters responding to wildfires within Wood Buffalo National Park today.

Yesterday saw extreme fire behaviour, with substantial growth on most fires within the park, especially Fire 2, Fire 7 and the Davidson Complex. Smoky conditions provided challenges again yesterday with monitoring and suppressing wildfires.

One additional fire crew and four fire specialists arrived yesterday afternoon from other Parks Canada places to help with efforts.

There is a revised area and road closure in place as of 10:00 a.m. yesterday. Access to Pine Lake Area is now prohibited, and travel along Pine Lake Road from Parsons Lake Road to Peace Point is not allowed. Please follow the area closure in place.

Fires of note:

• Fire 2 is estimated to be approximately 5,000 hectares. This fire took a significant run yesterday to the northeast and is now within 9 km of Pine Lake. Winds are expected today to push the fire to the west which may help to limit spread on the north and east sides of the fire. Extreme fire behaviour in the afternoon has made suppression efforts via air and direct response difficult. Today, fire personnel will be looking to plan strategic ignition lines, to implement over the weekend if conditions allow. As visibility and fire behaviour permit, bucketing will continue earlier in the day before fire behaviour picks up. Yesterday, crews were successful at putting structure protection in place at all cabins and other values in the Pine Lake area. They’ll continue setting up sprinkler lines in the area today. One dozer continued renewing older fire guards in the Pine Lake area yesterday, and additional heavy equipment will be added today to strategically continuing reinforcing guards.
• There are two helicopters, a water tender, three dozers and thirteen fire personnel responding to this fire. Visibility and availability permitting, air tankers may be called in.
• The area closure for Pine Lake was put in as a precautionary measure. This will continue to give fire personnel time to further assess the situation and give them space while they work.

This fire is 70 km from Fort Smith and poses no risk to the community at this time.

• Davidson Complex (Fires 8, 9, 13 and 14) is around 16,500 hectares combined and located in the Davidson Lake area of Wood Buffalo National Park and 25 km northeast of Garden River. There is no current risk to Garden River from the Davidson Complex. Poor visibility due to smoke continues to create challenges with monitoring this fire. As visibility allows, fire personnel will return to this area today to maintain sprinkler systems and install structure protection on additional at-risk cabins. Specialists are continuing work on assessing containment options on this complex and are planning to fly the area today.
• Fire 1 (Paskwa Wildfire – Fox Lake, Alberta) crossed into Wood Buffalo National Park along the park’s southwestern boundary on May 26, 2023. The Paskwa Wildfire is classified as out of control, its last recorded size was 88,094 hectares. Crews continue to work along the southern perimeter, extending the fire guard in the southwest by extinguishing an area 30m (100 ft) wide along the line to prevent fire spread. To the east, beyond the fire guard, ground crews are extinguishing hot spots along the southern perimeter with support from helicopters bucketing. Protecting the community of Garden River is the top priority for the Alberta Wildfire Incident Management Team (IMT) managing operations on the Paskwa Wildfire. Structure protection remains in place in the community of Garden River with the use of sprinklers and a high-volume water system. Structural firefighters also remain in the community ready to respond if needed. The IMT is working in consultation with Wood Buffalo National Park to limit fire spread within the park and protect Garden River. For full updates on the Paskwa Fire, please visit: https://srd.web.alberta.ca/high-level-area-update

Other confirmed fires:

• Fire 5 and Fire 6 are small spot fires located off the eastern side of Pine Lake Road. On May 29, crews were successful at containing these fires, which are now classified as Under Control. A crew will patrol these fires later this week.
• Fire 7 saw significant growth yesterday and is now approximately 970 hectares. It is 14 km to the northwest of Pine Lake.
• Fire 11’s last recorded size was 6,844 hectares. The fire is being monitored by Wood Buffalo National Park fire personnel. Structure protection will be put in place around values in the area if needed.

All other confirmed fires are being monitored by Wood Buffalo National Park fire personnel and, as visibility allows, structure protection will be put in place around values-at-risk in the area if needed. These include fires 10, 12, 3 and 4.

You can view up-to-date size estimates and locations in the attached Fire Status Map.

Note: Smoky conditions throughout Wood Buffalo National Park are creating poor visibility and presenting challenges. These visibility issues are making detection, monitoring and suppression more difficult.

It is especially important to report suspicious smoke or wildfires if you see them while travelling in the park. Call the Wood Buffalo National Park Fire Duty Officer at 867-621-0136.

Get up-to-date information on wildfires in Wood Buffalo National Park at our website here.

Closures and Fire Bans

Pine Lake Road from Parsons Lake Road to Peace Point is CLOSED, which includes ALL of the Pine Lake area. This is a precautionary measure to give fire personnel space while they work to contain Fire 2. The closure is effective June 1, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. until further notice.

A recreational fire ban is in place for all visitor facilities in Wood Buffalo National Park. This includes all day-use areas and Pine Lake Campground.

Weather Forecast

The weather for the Wood Buffalo National Park area is expected to be in the low 20s, dry and windy today. Environment and Climate Change Canada weather forecasts can be found here:

• Fort Chipewyan
• Fort Smith

Smoky conditions often accompany wildfires and are expected throughout the region today. The direction and amount of smoke in an area depends on weather and changes in wind direction.

Smoke forecasts and air quality:

• Current smoke forecasts
• Canada’s Wildfire Smoke Prediction System (FireWork)
• Environment Canada Air Quality Health Index

For further information, contact:

Alyssa Etsell
Fire Information Officer – Wood Buffalo National Park
alyssa.etsell@pc.gc.ca
867-621-0764

Report wildfires or suspicious smoke to the Fire Duty Officer at 867-621-0136.

Updates on fires within Wood Buffalo National Park will be released by 1:00 p.m. MT daily, unless the situation changes. Additional updates with more in-depth information on fires of note will be released by 8:00 p.m. MT as needed.

There are currently 14 confirmed fires in Wood Buffalo National Park. No new fires have been confirmed since yesterday’s update.

Situation Update

Yesterday’s smoky skies led to extreme visibility issues and created challenges with monitoring and suppressing wildfires within the park. There are 44 fire personnel, and five helicopters responding to wildfires within Wood Buffalo National Park today.

One additional fire crew and four fire specialists will arrive this afternoon from other Parks Canada places to help with efforts.

New: There is a revised area and road closure in place as of 10:00 a.m. today. Access to Pine Lake Area is now prohibited, and travel along Pine Lake Road from Parson’s Lake Road to Peace Point is not allowed. Please follow the area closure in place.

Fires of note:

• Fire 2 is now 11 km southwest of Pine Lake and is estimated to be approximately 2,600 hectares. This fire is 70 km from Fort Smith and poses no risk to any communities currently. There are three helicopters, a water tender, two dozers and sixteen fire personnel responding to this fire. Air tankers may be used, if available. Efforts are focused on limiting spread and trying to contain the northern and eastern sides of the fire. Yesterday, fire behaviour was extreme and when coupled with poor visibility, created many challenges with suppression efforts. Progress was made by heavy equipment, who continued to work at renewing older fire guards in the Pine Lake area yesterday and will continue that work today. Fire personnel were presented with a beneficial wind shift and did ignition work yesterday along Pine Lake Road. The wind is expected to shift today, so this operation made good progress in trying to limit the future spread of the fire to the east side of Pine Lake Road.
  The area closure for Pine Lake was put in as a precautionary measure. This will give fire personnel time to further assess the situation and give them space while they work on Fire 2. Crews will assess the area today and begin putting in structure protection as needed.
• Davidson Complex (Fires 8, 9, 13 and 14) is located in the Davidson Lake area of Wood Buffalo National Park. There is no current risk to any communities from the Davidson Complex. This complex saw some growth yesterday, mostly on the eastern side. Poor visibility due to smoke created challenges monitoring this fire yesterday and limited flying abilities. Fire personnel put structure protection in place on at-risk cabins in the area on Monday evening and they were visited again by a fire crew on Tuesday. As visibility allows, fire personnel will return to this area to maintain. Specialists are starting work on assessing containment options on this complex.
• Fire 1 (Paskwa Wildfire – Fox Lake, Alberta) crossed into Wood Buffalo National Park along the park’s southwestern boundary on May 26, 2023. The Paskwa Wildfire is classified as out of control, its last recorded size was 88,094 hectares. There was reduced smoke in Garden River yesterday, with lighter winds and moderate fire behaviour. Protecting the community of Garden River is the top priority for the Alberta Wildfire Incident Management Team (IMT) managing operations on the Paskwa Wildfire. The IMT is working in consultation with Wood Buffalo National Park to limit fire spread within the park and protect Garden River. For full updates on the Paskwa Fire, please visit: https://srd.web.alberta.ca/high-level-area-update

Other confirmed fires:

• Fire 5 and Fire 6 are small spot fires estimated at around 0.2 and 0.5 hectares (respectively), located off the eastern side of Pine Lake Road. On May 29, crews were successful at containing these fires, which are now classified as Under Control. They will patrol these fires later this week and work toward confirming full extinguishment.
• Fire 11 is around 5.5 km southwest of Isidore Lake and 60 km northeast of Garden River. Its last recorded size was 760 hectares and is being monitored by Wood Buffalo National Park fire personnel. Structure protection will be put in place around values in the area if needed.

All other confirmed fires are being monitored by Wood Buffalo National Park fire personnel and, as visibility allows, structure protection will be put in place around values-at-risk in the area if needed. These include fires 7, 10, 12, 3 and 4.

You can view up-to-date size estimates and locations in the attached Fire Status Map.

Note: Smoky conditions throughout Wood Buffalo National Park are creating poor visibility and presenting challenges. These visibility issues are making detection, monitoring and suppression more difficult. Yesterday as well as this morning, helicopters were not able to fly because of these visibility issues.

It is especially important to report suspicious smoke or wildfires if you see them while travelling in the park. Call the Wood Buffalo National Park Fire Duty Officer at 867-621-0136.

Get up-to-date information on wildfires in Wood Buffalo National Park at our website here.

Closures and Fire Bans

NEW – Pine Lake Road from Parsons Lake Road to Peace Point is CLOSED, which includes ALL of the Pine Lake area. This is a precautionary measure to give fire personnel time to set up structure protection and give them space while they work to contain Fire 2. The closure is effective June 1, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. until further notice.

A recreational fire ban is in place for all visitor facilities in Wood Buffalo National Park. This includes all day-use areas and Pine Lake Campground.

Weather Forecast

The weather for the Wood Buffalo National Park area is forecasted to be in the low 20s today, with smoky conditions and no precipitation. Easterly winds are expected in the evening. Environment and Climate Change Canada weather forecasts can be found here:

• Fort Chipewyan
• Fort Smith

Smoky conditions often accompany wildfires and are expected in the southern area of the park. The direction and amount of smoke in an area depends on weather and changes in wind direction.

Smoke forecasts and air quality:

• Current smoke forecasts
• Canada’s Wildfire Smoke Prediction System (FireWork)
• Environment Canada Air Quality Health Index

For further information, contact:

Alyssa Etsell
Fire Information Officer – Wood Buffalo National Park
alyssa.etsell@pc.gc.ca
867-621-0764

Report wildfires or suspicious smoke to the Fire Duty Officer at 867-621-0136.

Current Fire Danger – Extreme

Moving forward, please be advised that updates on confirmed fires within Wood Buffalo National Park will be released by 10:00 a.m. MT daily, unless the situation changes. Additional updates with more in-depth information on fires of note will be released by 8:00 p.m. MT as needed.

There are currently 14 confirmed fires in Wood Buffalo National Park. Two new fires have been confirmed since yesterday’s update.

Fires of note:

• Fire 2 is located 15 km southwest of Pine Lake. It is currently estimated to be approximately 1400 hectares. There are four air tankers, one helicopter, a water tender, one dozer and five fire personnel responding to this fire. Today, a fire crew continues work to hold the northeastern flank, with help from tankers and bucketing. The weather will continue to provide challenging conditions for suppression efforts today, with a thunderstorm expected in the area this afternoon. Heavy equipment was brought in yesterday and was successful at renewing one fire break around the Pine Lake area. They will continue to refresh other older fire guards in the area today. All traffic is restricted south of Kettle Point Access Road. Please follow the area closure in place for Pine Lake Road from Kettle Point to Peace Point.
• Fire 1 (Paskwa Wildfire – Fox Lake, Alberta) crossed into Wood Buffalo National Park along the park’s southwestern boundary on May 26, 2023. The Paskwa Wildfire is classified as out of control and its last recorded size was 86,194 hectares. Over the last two days, winds, and extreme fire behaviour, pushed the fire further east in Wood Buffalo National Park. Protecting the community of Garden River is the top priority for the Alberta Wildfire Incident Management Team (IMT) managing operations on the Paskwa Wildfire. The IMT is working in consultation with Wood Buffalo National Park to limit fire spread within the park and protect Garden River.

New confirmed fires:

• Fire 13 is located near Big Slough, 4 km north of the Peace River and is currently 0.2 hectares. Structure protection was placed on at-risk cabins in the area on Monday evening and visited again by a fire crew yesterday. This fire is close to Fire 8 and Fire 9 and is being monitored by fire personnel.
• Fire 14 is located at Davidson Lake and is currently 3,000 hectares. It is being monitored and structure protection will be installed on values in the area as required.
• Moving forward, Fires 8, 9, 13 and 14 will be reported together as the Davidson Complex.

Other confirmed fires:

• Fire 8 and 9 are located near Davidson Lake in the southwestern area of Wood Buffalo National Park, approximately 32km east of Garden River. Fire 8 is approximately 950 hectares, while Fire 9 is 6,000 hectares. On May 29, fire personnel put structure protection on at-risk cabins in the area. These fires are being monitored closely.
• Fire 7 is 60 hectares and located approximately 15 km northwest of Pine Lake. Wood Buffalo National Park fire personnel are monitoring this fire. Structure protection will be put in place around values in the area if needed.
• Fire 10 is located 5.8 km north of Mamawi Lake and was last measured at approximately 10 hectares. This fire is within a wetland landscape and is surrounded by water features. Fire personnel are monitoring.
• Fire 11 is around 12 km southwest of Isidore Lake and 60 km northeast of Garden River. It is approximately 760 hectares and is being monitored by Wood Buffalo National Park fire personnel. Structure protection will be put in place around values in the area if needed.
• Fire 12 is along the middle, southern border of the park and is currently estimated to be 9,700 hectares. Fire personnel are monitoring the fire and will place structure protection around values if required.
• Fire 3 and Fire 4 are located in the lower southwestern area of the park. Fire 3 is approximately 4,000 hectares and Fire 4 is approximately one hectare. Wood Buffalo National Park fire personnel are monitoring these fires. Structure protection will be put in place around cabins and other values in the area if needed.
• Fire 5 and Fire 6 are small spot fires estimated at around 0.2 and 0.5 hectares (respectively), located off the eastern side of Pine Lake Road, 8km from the Salt River Day Use Area. On May 29, crews were successful at containing these fires and they are now classified as Under Control. Yesterday, a fire crew began to wind down operations on these fires. They will begin to patrol the fires tomorrow and work toward confirming full extinguishment.

Note: Smoky conditions throughout Wood Buffalo National Park are creating poor visibility and presenting challenges. These visibility issues are making detection more difficult.

It is especially important to report suspicious smoke or wildfires if you see them while travelling in the park. Call the Wood Buffalo National Park Fire Duty Officer at 867-621-0136.

Get up-to-date information on wildfires in Wood Buffalo National Park at our website here.

Closures and Fire Bans

Pine Lake Road from Kettle Point Access Road to Peace Point is CLOSED due to reduced visibility and conditions from an active wildfire in the area. The closure is effective May 29, 2023 until further notice.

A recreational fire ban is in place for all visitor facilities in Wood Buffalo National Park. This includes all day-use areas and Pine Lake Campground.

Weather Forecast

The weather for the Wood Buffalo National Park area is forecasted to range in the low to mid 20s today, with a 30% chance of showers in the Fort Smith area. In certain areas of the park, there is a risk of thunderstorms with anticipated higher wind risk. Environment and Climate Change Canada weather forecasts can be found here:

• Fort Chipewyan
• Fort Smith

Smoky conditions often accompany wildfires and are expected in the southern area of the park. The direction and amount of smoke in an area depends on weather and changes in wind direction.

Smoke forecasts and air quality:

• Current smoke forecasts
• Canada’s Wildfire Smoke Prediction System (FireWork)
• Environment Canada Air Quality Health Index

For further information, contact:

Alyssa Etsell
Fire Information Officer
Wood Buffalo National Park
alyssa.etsell@pc.gc.ca
867-621-0764

Report wildfires or suspicious smoke to the Fire Duty Officer at 867-621-0136.

Current Fire Danger – Extreme

There are currently six active fires in Wood Buffalo National Park.

Fires of note:

• Fire 2 is located 18 km southwest of Pine Lake. It is currently estimated to be approximately 1,400 hectares. There are four air tankers, one helicopter, a water tender and five fire personnel responding to this fire. A fire crew is working to hold the northeastern flank, with help from tankers and bucketing. The weather today and yesterday, coupled with prolonged drought periods this winter and spring, is providing challenging conditions for suppression efforts. Heavy equipment is being brought in to help reinforce older fire breaks around the Pine Lake area. All traffic is restricted south of Kettle Point Access Road. Please follow the area closure in place for Pine Lake Road from Kettle Point to Peace Point. is located approximately 20km southwest of Pine Lake. It is currently estimated to be 90 hectares. There are two aircraft, a water tender and one fire crew responding to this fire. People travelling in the area may experience poor visibility and are asked to be aware and attentive to staff working in the area.
• Fire 1 (Paskwa Wildfire – Fox Lake, Alberta) crossed into Wood Buffalo National Park along the park’s southwestern boundary on May 16, 2023. The Paskwa Wildfire is currently 85,600 hectares and classified as out of control. Over the last two days, winds, and extreme fire behaviour, pushed the fire further east in Wood Buffalo National Park. Protecting the community of Garden River is the top priority for the Alberta Wildfire Incident Management Team (IMT) managing operations on the Paskwa Wildfire. The IMT is working in consultation with Wood Buffalo National Park to limit fire spread within the park and protect Garden River. Garden River is currently on an evacuation alert and residents will be notified as the situation evolves.

Other confirmed fires:

• Fire 8 and 9 are located near Davidson Lake in the southwestern area of Wood Buffalo National Park, approximately 30km east of Garden River. Fire 8 is approximately 950 hectares, while Fire 9 is 6,000 hectares. Last night, fire personnel put structure protection on at-risk cabins in the area. These fires are being monitored closely, and additional structure protection will be installed on values in the area as required.
• Fire 7 is 60 hectares and located approximately 18km northwest of Pine Lake. Wood Buffalo National Park fire personnel are monitoring this fire. Structure protection will be put in place around values in the area if needed.
• Fire 10 is located 5.8km north of Mamawi Lake and was last measured at approximately 10 hectares. This fire is within a wetland landscape and is surrounded by water features. Fire personnel are monitoring.
• Fire 11 is around 12 km southwest of Isidore Lake and 60km northeast of Garden River. It is approximately 760 hectares and is being monitored by Wood Buffalo National Park fire personnel. Structure protection will be put in place around values in the area if needed.
• Fire 3 and Fire 4 are located in the lower southwestern area of the park. Fire 3 is approximately 4,000 hectares and Fire 4 is approximately one hectare. Wood Buffalo National Park fire personnel are monitoring these fires. Structure protection will be put in place around cabins and other values in the area if needed.
• Fire 5 and Fire 6 are small spot fires estimated at around 0.2 and 0.5 hectares (respectively), located off the eastern side of Pine Lake Road, 8km from the Salt River Day Use Area. Yesterday, crews were successful at containing these fires and they are now classified as Under Control.

Note: Smoky conditions throughout Wood Buffalo National Park are creating poor visibility and presenting challenges. These visibility issues are making detection more difficult.

It is especially important to report suspicious smoke or wildfires if you see them while travelling in the park. Call the Wood Buffalo National Park Fire Duty Officer at 867-621-0136.

Get up-to-date information on wildfires in Wood Buffalo National Park at our website here.

Closures and Fire Bans

Pine Lake Road from Kettle Point Access Road to Peace Point is CLOSED due to reduced visibility and conditions from an active wildfire in the area. The closure is effective May 29, 2023 until further notice.

A recreational fire ban is in place for all visitor facilities in Wood Buffalo National Park. This includes all day-use areas and Pine Lake Campground.

Weather Forecast

The weather for the Wood Buffalo National Park area is forecasted to remain in the low 20s through this week, with higher winds today and a risk of a thunderstorm for this afternoon and evening. Environment and Climate Change Canada weather forecasts can be found here:

• Fort Chipewyan
• Fort Smith

Smoky conditions often accompany wildfires. The direction and amount of smoke in an area depends on weather and changes in wind direction.

Smoke forecasts and air quality:

• Current smoke forecasts
• Canada’s Wildfire Smoke Prediction System (FireWork)
• Environment Canada Air Quality Health Index

For further information, contact:

Alyssa Etsell
Fire Information Officer
Wood Buffalo National Park
alyssa.etsell@pc.gc.ca
867-621-0764

Report wildfires or suspicious smoke to the Fire Duty Officer at 867-621-0136.

Current Fire Danger – Extreme

There are currently six active fires in Wood Buffalo National Park. Active Fires

• Fire 2 is located approximately 20km southwest of Pine Lake. It is currently estimated to be 90 hectares. There are two aircraft, a water tender and one fire crew responding to this fire. People travelling in the area may experience poor visibility and are asked to be aware and attentive to staff working in the area.
• Fire 3 and Fire 4 are located in the lower southwestern area of the park. Fire 3 is approximately 3,000 hectares and Fire 4 is approximately one hectare. Wood Buffalo National Park fire personnel are monitoring these fires. Structure protection will be put in place around cabins and other values in the area if needed.
• Fire 5 and Fire 6 are small spot fires estimated at around 0.2 and 0.5 hectares (respectively), located 8km from the Salt River Day Use Area, off the eastern side of Pine Lake Road. Two Parks Canada fire crews and one supporting helicopter are responding to these fires and bucketing as required.
• Fire 1 (Paskwa Wildfire – Fox Lake, Alberta) crossed into Wood Buffalo National Park along the park’s southwestern boundary two weeks ago. The Paskwa Wildfire is currently 78,125 hectares and classified as out of control. The Alberta Wildfire Incident Management Team managing operations on the Paskwa Wildfire is working in consultation with Wood Buffalo National Park to limit fire spread within the park and protect the community of Garden River. Wood Buffalo National Park is supporting Alberta Wildfire to ensure the protection of people, infrastructure, and values-at-risk. Garden River is currently on an evacuation alert and residents will be notified as the situation evolves.
• Get information regarding the evacuation and stay informed by visiting the Little Red River Cree Nation’s Facebook page, get more information on the Paskwa wildfire here, and find up-to-date information on Alberta wildfires here.

Information on wildfires in Wood Buffalo National Park is posted to our website. Refer here for updates throughout the season.

Closures and Fire Bans

There are no area closures in Wood Buffalo National Park. A recreational fire ban is in place for all visitor facilities in Wood Buffalo National Park. This includes all day-use areas and Pine Lake Campground.

For information related to visitor services and facilities, please contact the Visitor Centre at (867) 872-7960.

Weather Forecast

The weather for the Wood Buffalo National Park area is forecasted to remain in the low 20s through this week, with higher winds today and a risk of a thunderstorm for this afternoon and evening. Environment and Climate Change Canada weather forecasts can be found here:

• Fort Chipewyan
• Fort Smith

Smoky conditions often accompany wildfires. The direction and amount of smoke in an area depends on weather and changes in wind direction.

Smoke forecasts and air quality:

• Current smoke forecasts
• Canada’s Wildfire Smoke Prediction System (FireWork)
• Environment Canada Air Quality Health Index

For further information, contact:

Alyssa Etsell
Fire Information Officer
Wood Buffalo National Park
alyssa.etsell@pc.gc.ca
867-621-0764

Report wildfires or suspicious smoke to the Fire Duty Officer at 867-621-0136.

There is currently one active wildfire within Wood Buffalo National Park.

The Paskwa Fire (HWF-030) is located in the community of Fox Lake and was detected on May 2, 2023. This fire is classified as Out of Control (OC) and the last recorded size is 60,955 hectares. The fire is approximately 1km inside the Wood Buffalo National Park boundary and 8km from the community of Garden River. An Incident Management Team is in place with crews and resources from multiple jurisdictions responding.

On May 17th, 2023 a backburning operation was conducted to burn off forest fuels between the retardant line near Gar-den River and the northeast perimeter of the fire. Backburning was successful and today crews will access the retardant line to extinguish hotspots. Some hand ignition may be used to ensure complete removal of fuel near the retardant line. Information Officers will be in the community today to answer any questions that residents may have. Garden River is currently on an evacuation alert and residents will be notified as the situation changes.

Get information regarding the evacuation and stay informed by visiting the Little Red River Cree Nation’s Facebook page.

Get more information on the Paskwa wildfire is here.

Find up to date information on Alberta wildfires here.

Wood Buffalo National Park is supporting Alberta Wildfire to ensure the protection of people, infrastructure, and values-at-risk.

Hot, dry and windy conditions are expected to continue throughout northern Alberta and the southern NWT, which could see further fire activity in Wood Buffalo National Park and surrounding areas.

Information on wildfires in Wood Buffalo National Park is posted to our website. Refer here for updates throughout the season.

Smoky conditions often accompany wildfires. The direction and amount of smoke in an area depends on weather and changes in wind direction.

Smoke forecasts and air quality:

• Current smoke forecasts
• Canada’s Wildfire Smoke Prediction System (FireWork)
• Environment Canada Air Quality Health Index

Weather Forecast

The weather for the Wood Buffalo National Park area is forecasted to remain unseasonably warm for the next several days with little to no precipitation. Environment and Climate Change Canada weather forecasts can be found here:

• Fort Chipewyan
• Fort Smith

FIRE INFORMATION:

Sierra Stinson, Fire Information Officer
Email: sierra.stinson@pc.gc.ca
Tel: 867-872-0170