High winds coupled with dry conditions has Westlock County under a fire restriction.
As of May 8, permits will no longer be issued for large brush fires, or fireworks, while new fire permits will be restricted to essential burning for small debris, or crop removal.
Back-country campfires and burn barrels are also restricted, while exploding targets and tracer rounds are always banned via municipal bylaw.
County protective services manager John Biro called current conditions “extremely volatile” and said the restriction stays in place until conditions change — up-to-date information is available on the county’s website, or via its social media accounts.
More information on fire bans across the province visit www.albertafirebans.ca.
“Whenever the wind blows I get a sick feeling. All it takes is one mistake, or someone deliberately causing problems and it will get very big, very fast,” said Biro.
“There is lots of moisture, but that’s on the surface. The problem now too is there’s enough moisture that we may see a fire, but we may not be able get to it until it gets to the other side and by then it’s doubled, or tripled in size.”
Engineered incinerators, as well as fires in municipal, or private campgrounds within designated fire rings are allowed. Backyard fire pits are also allowed so long as at they have a minimum of three-metres clearance measured from the nearest fire pit edge from buildings, property lines, or other combustible materials. They must also have a mesh screen with openings no larger than 12.5 millimetres and be constructed of expanded metal, or an equivalent non-combustible material.
Biro said there are different levels of notices, ranging from a fire advisory, to a restriction, or an outright ban. He favours a restriction versus an outright ban, saying they offer more flexibility for the municipality.
“A fire advisory is typically issued in the early spring just to remind people that the snow is starting to disappear and for them to go and check their old brush piles to make sure they’re out while there’s still moisture in the ground,” said Biro.
“As conditions change then we move to restrictions, so we try to eliminate some of the problems that we’ve had in the past and No. 1 are burn barrels. They’ve burned down many homes and barns and cleaned out people’s yards. And then there’s the large burning brush (fires) that last more than a day. You don’t know what tomorrow is going to bring or even the next hour. So we try to eliminate that.
“Small brush (fires) … we don’t mind that. Yard clean up that you’re standing around watching is OK. And farmer’s crops, they have to get that off for them to run their business.
“I don’t like fire bans, they don’t stop criminals. Most people will abide by it, but there’s still idiots out there that don’t care if there’s a ban, or not. The only good thing about a fire ban is that if you see a puff of smoke somewhere you know that it shouldn’t be happening.
“So we throw these restrictions out there, along with the advisories, basically to get people’s mindsets switched. We try to be more proactive to prevent, or limit unwanted fires.”
Biro reminds people to supervise and extinguish all fires during dry and windy conditions. If people are burning they need to have water and extinguishing equipment handy and ready.
Any non-permitted activities are subject to fines in accordance with Westlock County’s Fire Bylaw 01-2019 as per Schedule B — see more on the county’s website.
As well, Biro says people need to use extreme caution when working or driving in grassy areas, be mindful of hot exhaust and keep vehicles clean and free of debris as smoldering debris can fall off and start fires.
“We’ve had enough disasters in the spring with wildfires that people are more aware that before they strike a match they need to monitor the Alberta fire bans website, or with the local municipality. People need to monitor that daily.”
On the horizon, Biro said they’ll be installing fire alert banners on all the municipal entrance signs, similar to what’s currently on the outside of the Fawcett fire hall.
“It’ll be a banner that will go underneath our Westlock County signs and it’ll tell people whether it’s high hazard or not. Should we go to a fire ban there’s a sign that flips down to alert people.
“We’re going to try and do our best in informing the public and I hope that we have.”
