Conditions in Grande Prairie improved enough last week to step back from a fire restriction. They have not improved enough to lift restrictions entirely.
A fire advisory took effect for the City of Grande Prairie including annexed rural areas at 3 p.m. on June 5, 2026. The County of Grande Prairie, including the towns of Beaverlodge, Sexsmith, and Wembley, moved to the same advisory level at the same time. Both downgrades came after recent rainfall reduced wildfire danger, but the area remains dry and the advisory stays in effect until conditions improve further.
The wildfire danger rating in the Grande Prairie Forest Area is currently low according to Alberta Wildfire. Four active fires are burning in the area all under control, all under five hectares, none posing a threat to any communities.
What you can and cannot do right now
This is what matters most. The distinction between a fire advisory and a fire restriction changes what is allowed in your backyard.
Currently allowed in the city:
Backyard fire pits with screens. Propane and natural gas appliances including barbecues, heaters, and fire pits. Charcoal briquette barbecues. Wood pellet smokers and barbecues. Indoor wood fireplaces. Smudge fires.
Currently restricted or prohibited:
Open burning and burn barrels are limited on a case-by-case basis permit requests may be restricted. Fire pits without screens are never allowed regardless of fire status. Fireworks require written authorization before use.
The wind rule and why it matters
Even when burning is technically allowed, wind changes everything.
City Fire Marshal Chris Renyk was direct about it: "Wind over 15 km/h can send embers flying into nearby yards or dry grass, starting fires before anyone even notices. Always check the wind before you burn, and don't light anything if it's too breezy."
For city residents the threshold is 15 km/h. In the county, the threshold for the advisory is 12 km/h. If wind is forecast to reach those speeds, no burning is permitted regardless of what else is allowed under the advisory. Check Environment Canada's hourly forecast before lighting anything.
What the advisory means for the county
For County of Grande Prairie residents and the towns of Beaverlodge, Sexsmith, and Wembley fire permits may be restricted under the advisory. Landowners and industry members are also specifically encouraged to inspect any piles burned during the winter to confirm they are fully extinguished. Smoldering burn piles from spring burning can reignite in dry conditions weeks after they appear to have gone out.
What to remember even when conditions improve
The advisory is the lowest tier of fire restriction it is a caution level, not a ban. But Grande Prairie's fire environment makes even the lowest tier worth taking seriously.
"We continue to see fires start from something as simple as a cigarette tossed along a walking trail," said Fire Marshal Renyk. "It may not seem like much, but it only takes one spark in the wrong place to put homes and lives at risk. When we talk about fire prevention, we're really talking about changing habits not just as individuals but as a community."
For current fire status updates for the city: cityofgp.com/firebans
For current fire status updates for the county: countygp.ab.ca/fire-bans
Fire department non-emergency line: 780-538-0393
Sources:
City of Grande Prairie, Fire advisory now in effect for City of Grande Prairie, June 5, 2026 (cityofgp.com)
County of Grande Prairie, County downgrades its Fire Restriction to Fire Advisory, June 5, 2026 (countygp.ab.ca)
Alberta Wildfire, Grande Prairie Forest Area fire danger rating, June 2026 (wildfire.alberta.ca)
