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Wildfire season on the horizon

While it’s hard to imagine with the snow and frigid weather, Alberta’s wildfire season is just around the corner, and residents are being reminded to take caution when handling fire.
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March 1 marks the start of wildfire season in Alberta. A permit is required for all planned fires located within Alberta’s Forest Protection Area, which goes just north of Cold Lake and includes some of the MD of Bonnyville.

While it’s hard to imagine with the snow and frigid weather, Alberta’s wildfire season is just around the corner, and residents are being reminded to take caution when handling fire.

“We’ve seen in recent years the destruction that a wildfire can have on a community,” stated Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority (BRFA) fire chief Jay Melvin. “We just want residents to be aware, and do their due diligence when they’re out either having their backyard campfires or when farmers are clearing their land. Just to be aware of your surroundings on what you’re doing so we can prevent any type of major wildfire in our area.”

March 1 marks the start of wildfire season in Alberta. As of that date, a permit is required for all planned fires located within Alberta’s Forest Protection area, which goes just north of Cold Lake and covers part of the MD of Bonnyville, with the exception of campfires.

Fire guardians are responsible for going out and explaining to residents the regulations for burning within the MD.

Melvin explained, “They will come out and help get rid of your spring burning, or if you’re doing any land clearing. Everything is in accordance with our fire bylaws.”

In order to avoid a dry spring and summer, Melvin noted the area might need more snow.

“I know that may not seem appetizing, but if we were to get some more snow and a pretty quick green-up, that’s what we want. If we get fast run-off, get low humidity, and high winds, then we’re in for a high-hazard. That’s when you’re going to see fire restrictions and bans.”

Although he didn’t have concrete numbers, Melvin said last year’s dry spring kept the BRFA busy.

Last year, the Alberta government responded to 1,231 wildfires that burned more than 49,000 hectares, while the City of Cold Lake saw a decrease in the number of calls regarding wildfires in the area.

“Some of it, I think, is because of the season,” explained Cold Lake Fire-Rescue chief Jeff Fallow. “More times now you have to report, and there’s rules and regulations around that. I think people are following those, and the times that we have gone is a burn that’s got away because of wind conditions or something like that.”

Permits may not be required for bonfires, but the same amount of safety should be put toward keeping them under control.

“Everyone has a general understanding of how high your flames should be on a campfire, and we’ve all had those ones that are ‘hey, let’s have a six-foot flame.’ Enjoy the campfires, but keep your flames small so everyone can enjoy them and don’t burn anything that’s not your normal combustible,” stressed Melvin.

Fallow added, “The key is you’ve got to stay with the fire, don’t let it get too big, and have some sort of extinguishable handy in case it does become too big or get larger than you want it. Once you’re done, make sure it’s cold to the touch.”

During the off-season, Fallow suggested giving local fire departments a call if you’re planning on having a large burn on your property.

“It stops the fire trucks from going to your location if they aren’t required. Both of our services are volunteer services, so if we get those calls, they’ve got to come from their home, or their place of employment, get on the trucks, and they go out, find the person out there doing a burn who just didn’t tell anybody.”

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