A portion of Athabasca County falls under the Alberta Forest Protection Area which is governed by Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. This provincial agency manages and responds to all wildfires and is responsible for issuing permits and putting on fire bans in the Forest Protection Area (see map below). Call 780-675-8168 for more information.
Other than a campfire, any person lighting an open fire for burning debris or any other purpose must have a valid fire permit. Permits are required year round in that part of the County outside of the Forest Protection area.
In the County permits may be requested by contacting the County Office. In the Forest Protection Area permits are required during the “Fire Season” which starts March 1st and ends each October 31st.
Fire permits are free. Usually issued for a specific period of time, they may be cancelled before expiry date if the fire danger makes such action necessary. Permits for the Forest Protection area can be obtained by contacting Alberta Sustainable Resources at 780-675-8168.
A fire permit is a legal document that conditionally authorizes a person to burn wood debris at a time specified on the permit. By obtaining a fire permit you have simply indicated your wish to burn. The responsibility for conducting a safe burn is yours.
Anyone who sets a fire under the authority of a permit must:
Keep the permit at the fire
Produce and show the permit to an officer upon request
Keep the fire under control; and
Extinguish the fire before expiration or upon cancellation of the permit, or obtain a renewal.
Contact the county office at (780) 675-2273.
Or apply online here.
Alberta Forestry
(Lac La Biche Office):
