Dry conditions force Alberta officials to issue fire ban
Posted May 15, 2012 7:35 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Dry and windy conditions have forced provincial officials to issue a fire ban for forested areas across much of Alberta.
The affected area includes provincial land along the U.S. border in the foothills, north to Manning and east to Fort McMurray.
“We will be continuing to assess the hazard on a daily basis,” says wildfire information officer Whitney Exton. “So we will be removing or adjusting the ban as conditions allow.”
The ban prohibits the lighting of outdoor fires, fireworks and the use of portable campfires.
Fire permits under the Forest and Prairie Protection Act have also been suspended.
“The conditions across the province have been warm and dry for several days, if not weeks,” Exton tells 660News. “So we’ve been monitoring the situation and we feel a fire ban is the right tool to use right now.”
Cities, towns and villages are exempt from the ban because they have their own fire control agreements.
Fire crews with Alberta Sustainable Resources are currently combating 21 fires across Alberta.
Four blazes near Slave Lake, Lodgepole, Lac La Biche and Bonnyville have been classified as out of control.
The ban will not affect fires contained within a cooking or heating appliance, an engineered fire receptacle, walled tents with air tight stoves and industrial facilities.
Exton says the fact that most of the wildfires are 100 per cent preventable is a big concern.
“We have one wildfire that is confirmed to be caused by lightning,” she explains. “The rest are under investigation but as we are not in lightning season just yet, it is very likely that most of these wildfires are human-caused.”
Anyone who ignores the ban could face a fine of up to $5,000 and would be responsible for any costs associated with fighting the fire.
Since the beginning of April, provincial firefighters have responded to more than 270 wildfires.
