National Wildland Fire Situation Report

National Wildland Fire Situation Report

Archived reports

Current as of: August 21, 2019

Current active fires
Uncontrolled Being Held Controlled Modified Response
139 20 63 19
2019
(to date)		 10-yr avg
(to date)		 % normal Prescribed U.S.
Number 3,717 5,493 68 39 31,051
Area
(ha)		 1,791,288 2,556,715 70 2,870 1,534,207

Priority fires

There is one priority fire in AB.

  • The Chuckegg Creek Wildfire (HWF-042-2019) near High Level, Alberta, is currently under control with an estimated size of 350,135 hectares.

Interagency mobilization

Canada is at preparedness level 1, indicating that weather conditions in most of the country are such that significant fire activity is unlikely. Nationally, fire activity is below average for this time of year. The United States is at level 2.

At this time, Alberta is receiving resources from BC, NWT, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec. No international crews are currently active in Canada.

Weekly Synopsis

Canada’s fire situation remains quiet for mid-August. Only small patches in central Yukon, southern British Columbia, and southern Manitoba and adjoining areas in western Ontario remain susceptible to deep-burning fires. Cloud and a few showers cover much of British Columbia, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories, and much of Ontario and Quebec. Warm and windy conditions prevail in the Prairies, although moisture in the middle layer of the forest floor will likely confine any fire activity to the surface.

Prognosis

A cold front in British Columbia on Wednesday, August 21, gradually moves eastward and brings showers and thundershowers with its passage. Ahead of this feature, warm and windy conditions prevail, with the peak winds likely occurring in Saskatchewan on Thursday, August 22. While this may lead to rapid fire growth, forest floor moisture continues to favor surface fire events. This frontal system reaches Manitoba by Friday, August 23, then fades as it wraps around a strong high pressure system. A new front sets up in this area by Saturday, August 24, with moisture pulled north from the Gulf of Mexico. Models show a strong surface low developing over western Ontario by Monday, August 26, with the new frontal boundary reaching eastern Quebec by Wednesday, August 28. By this time, high pressure rebuilds over British Columbia, warming and drying the province and raising fire danger. While indexes will rise starting on the weekend in eastern Canada, only minor fire activity is likely.

Current graphs

Note: For provinces, PC = Parks Canada

Fire Links