Wildfire risk rising as temperatures climb in southern Alberta

CTV News

6 days ago

The wildfire risk is rising in southern Alberta, with temperatures expected to climb toward the 30 C mark over the next two days.
In the Calgary Forest Area, the fire risk has been raised to high, according to Alberta Wildfire.
'Extremely warm temperatures combined with very strong winds will continue to increase the wildfire danger over the coming days,' Alberta Wildfire said in an update Wednesday.
'Although cooler temperatures and the possibility of rain are in the forecast for the coming weekend, we are anticipating several days of high to very high wildfire danger.'
Temperatures are expected to continue to climb on Wednesday and Thursday. Environment and Climate Change Canada issued heat warnings for the majority of Alberta, including Calgary and Edmonton.
'Daytime temperatures in the high 20s today will increase to reach 30 degrees Celsius on Thursday. Overnight lows will be near 14 degrees Celsius,' ECCC said.
'Temperatures will begin to cool on Thursday as a cold front moves eastward across the province.'
As of Wednesday morning, there were no active wildfires in the CFA. To date, the CFA has experienced 21 wildfires this year that have burned 32.82 hectares of land.
The Calgary Forest Area includes a large area in southwestern Alberta, stretching from areas west of Carstairs, Cochrane and Calgary, and down south past Blairmore.
Calgary Forest Area
A map of the Calgary Forest Area. (Source: Alberta Wildfire)
In Banff National Park, which is not included in the forest area, the fire danger is considered moderate, according to a bulletin posted by Parks Canada on Tuesday.
'Under moderate fire danger conditions, fires generally spread along the surface of the ground with the occasional tree or clump of trees igniting. Ground crews with conventional firefighting equipment can usually contain these fires,' Parks Canada says on its website.
Any suspicious smoke or illegal campfires in the national park can be reported to Banff dispatch at [phone].
Throughout Alberta's forest areas, there were 40 active wildfires on Wednesday, with 18 considered under control, 20 out of control and two being held.