Town of Wembley & County of Grande Prairie
- Fire Advisories, Fire Restrictions and Fire Bans -
FIRE ADVISORY LIFTED
Effective 9 a.m., June 30, 2026, the County of Grande Prairie Regional Fire Service has lifted its previous Fire Advisory for the entire County, along with the towns of Beaverlodge, Sexsmith and Wembley.
Residents are reminded that permits are required during the fire season. Burning is not permitted when winds reach, or are forecasted to reach, 12 km per hour or higher.
Landowners and industry members are strongly encouraged to continue to inspect any previously burned piles from the winter to confirm they are fully extinguished.
Background Information
Depending on the conditions, the County of Grande Prairie uses the following tiered system to temporarily limit activities that may lead to wildfires. Fire advisories, restrictions, or bans can reduce human-caused wildfires.
- Fire Advisory: This is a warning level that the fire danger rating has increased. Fire permits may be restricted.
- Fire Restriction: A fire restriction prohibits the use of wood campfires on public land but does allow wood campfires inside provincial campgrounds and private property in an approved fire pit, including inside County campgrounds. Fire permits may be restricted, suspended, or cancelled, and no new fire permits will be issued.
- Fire Ban: A fire ban prohibits wood campfires on public land, campgrounds, and private land, including backyard fire pits. Fire permits will be suspended or cancelled, and no new permits will be issued.
| Fire Hazard Level | Description |
|---|---|
Fire Ban | A fire ban prohibits wood campfires on public land, campgrounds, and private land including backyard fire pits. Fire permits will be suspended or cancelled, and no new permits will be issued. |
| Fire Restriction | A fire restriction prohibits the use of wood campfires on public land but does allow wood campfires inside provincial campgrounds and private property. Fire permits may be restricted, suspended, or cancelled and no new fire permits will be issued. |
| Fire Advisory | A fire advisory is issued if the fire danger rating has increased. Fire permits may be restricted. Safe campfires are allowed in campgrounds and backcountry or random camping areas, but this level is a warning they may be restricted if the situation doesn't improve. |
| No Restriction | Normal burning rules apply. |
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Fire Permits
Residents in the Town limits of Wembley do NOT require a fire permit for recreational fire pits. All fire advisories, fire restrictions and fire bans put in place by the County of Grande Prairie DO apply within Town limits. It is your responsibility to ensure you know when, where and what you can burn. Always check verified websites or sources for information related to fire bans. For the Town of Wembley or the County of Grande Prairie, you can find always find more information related to burning by Clicking Here or by typing "County of Grande Prairie Fire Bans" into your internet search engine.
When in doubt, call the Wembley Fire Department or the County of Grande Prairie directly.
Wembley Fire Department : 780-766-3170
County of Grande Prairie Administration Building: 780-532-9722
Industrial burn permits are issued on a case-by-case basis within town limits. For any questions regarding industrial burning, please contact the Wembley Fire Department directly at 780-766-3170.
Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for a list of materials that are not permitted to be burned within Town limits, or to learn more about the Wembley Fire & Emergency Services Bylaw 753.
Are you located in the County of Grande Prairie? Residents in the County of Grande Prairie typically require a valid fire permit for burning including recreational fire pits, burn barrels, incinerators, and brush piles during fire season. To see if you require a fire permit for your area within the County please click the link - County of Grande Prairie Fire Guardians.
*Please note that fire permits for the County of Grande Prairie cannot be issued by contacting the Wembley Fire Department directly. To obtain a fire permit, you will need to contact a County of Grande Prairie Fire Guardian for your division. Homeowners/Landowners who contact the Wembley Fire Department directly for fire permits within the County will be provided with one of the phone numbers listed below*
County Division #4 & Division #5 (Wembley East & West) - Fire Permits
Tim Hoekstra: 613-312-7999
Logan Stacey: 780-512-3026
Lynda Ost: 780-296-2825
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Town of Wembley Fire Pit Criteria
In the Town of Wembley, a residential fire pit must meet the following criteria:
- A minimum of 3-metres (10ft) of clearance, measured from the nearest fire pit edge, is maintained from buildings, property lines, or other combustible material
- A minimum of one and a half times the height of the fire pit of noncombustible material surrounding the outer perimeter of the fire pit
- The fire pit height does not exceed 0.6 meters (2ft) when measured from the surrounding grade to the top of the pit opening
- The fire pit opening does not exceed 1 meters (3ft) in width or in diameter when measured between the widest points or outside edges
- The fire pit installation has enclosed sides made from bricks, concrete blocks, heavy gauge metal, or other non-combustible materials
- A spark arrester mesh screen with openings no larger than 1.25 cm (0.5") and constructed of expanded metal (or equivalent non-combustible material) is used to cover the fire opening in a manner sufficient to contain and reduce the hazards of airborne sparks
- The fire pit is not located over any underground utilities or under any above-ground wires
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Forest Protection Area (FPA)
Published on September 4, 2026
Recent rainfall and cooler temperatures have resulted in low fire danger across the Grande Prairie Forest Area. Despite this, fires can still ignite under the right conditions. Please continue to be cautious during any activity that can cause a spark.
Long weekend message
As Albertans enjoy the last long weekend of summer, there are several ways you can help prevent human-caused wildfires:
- Keep campfires small, safe and under control. Never leave a fire unattended. Before you leave your site or turn in for the night, soak your campfire with water, stir the ashes and soak it again until it is cool to the touch.
- Before travelling, check Fire Bans in Alberta Parks and Alberta Fire Bans for your destination to confirm whether campfires are permitted and whether any additional restrictions are in place.
Wildfire situation
Wildfire GWF058
Wildfire GWF058 is classified as under control and is approximately 25 hectares in size. The wildfire is located near the British Columbia border within the Grande Prairie Forest Area, south of Township Road 700 at the end of Range Road 133.
Firefighters are continuing to monitor the wildfire for any changes and will respond as needed. Cooler weather and scattered rain showers has helped suppression efforts.
For more wildfire information across Alberta, including location, status and size, visit the Alberta Wildfire Status Dashboard.
Harvesting operations
To operate safely in the forest area we recommend:
- Maintaining your equipment by continuously inspecting for any wear and tear
- Ensuring machine parts are well lubricated to reduce sparking potential
- Checking fluid levels on equipment like oil, coolant and other fluids to avoid overheating the engine components
- Stopping often to cool machines down during hot days
- Acknowledging that hay bales can spontaneously combust under hot and dry conditions. To avoid accidently starting a wildfire consider baling outside the peak burning hours of (3 to 7 pm) as this is when wildfires are more likely to occur and spread quickly
- Always carry firefighting equipment with you like a fire extinguisher, shovel and water vessel
Hunting season
If you're heading out into the forest to hunt and you're having a campfire, keep your campfires small, safe and always attended. Before leaving the site or going to bed, ensure your campfire is completely extinguished. Soak the fire with water, stir the ashes and soak it again to ensure it’s out. The fire is fully extinguished when you can no longer feel any heat from the ashes. If operating off-highway vehicles, stop often to check for and remove grass or other debris that can build up around your machine’s exhaust and hot spots. Carry firefighting tools such as a shovel, pail and extinguisher.
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TODAY'S FIRE DANGER FOR THE TOWN OF WEMBLEY AND AREA IS