Fire Safety & Advisories: Stay Informed Before You Burn

Whether you're gathering around a cozy campfire or firing up the backyard firepit, it's important to know the current fire danger level before lighting any fire. The Summer Village of Whispering Hills is located within Alberta’s Forest Protection Area (FPA), which means we follow provincial fire advisories—or stricter local rules when necessary.

Being fire-safe isn’t just smart—it’s your legal responsibility.

How to Check the Fire Status

Whispering Hills uses two main tools to share fire hazard updates during wildfire season:

  1. Fire Status Signs
    Look for the posted fire advisory signs in the Summer Village—these are updated regularly based on current conditions.
  2. Alberta Fire Bans Website & App
    Visit www.albertafirebans.ca or download the Alberta Fire Bans app to get up-to-date information anytime. You can even set alerts for our region.

Understanding Fire Danger Levels

Fire Level What It Means
No Restriction Campfires are allowed. Fire permits may still be required for larger burns.
Fire Advisory Conditions are drying. Use extra caution—restrictions may follow.
Fire Restriction Most open fires banned. Campfires only allowed in approved fire rings.
Fire Ban All open fires banned—including campfires. Only gas or propane stoves allowed.
Fire Ban + OHV Restriction Fire ban extended to Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs) on public lands.
Forest Area Closure Public access restricted due to extreme wildfire risk.

✅ Campfire Safety Basics

  • Keep fires small and manageable.
  • Never leave your fire unattended.
  • Fully extinguish your fire:
    • Soak the ashes.
    • Stir the coals.
    • Soak again until the fire is cold to the touch.
  • Never bury a fire—embers can smolder and re-ignite.

Long weekends and windy days are especially risky times for human-caused wildfires. Be extra cautious and avoid burning altogether when conditions are dry.

By checking fire conditions and practicing safe burning habits, we can help protect our community, our forests, and Baptiste Lake for everyone to enjoy. When in doubt—don’t light it.