EDMONTON – Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach has put a fire ban in place across much of the province.
Dry, windy conditions have prompted the fire ban, which is effective immediately.
The exceptions to the ban are federal lands where there are no fire control agreements, such as some National Defence lands, First Nations reserves outside of forest protection areas and cities, towns, villages and summer villages.
Urban municipalities are being encouraged to consider fire bans in their jurisdictions.
Calgary quickly ordered one, with the exception of in-house fireplaces, camp stoves and liquid-fuel barbecues and fire pits.
Edmonton issued a partial ban affecting fires in parks, open-air burning and fireworks.
However, fire pits are still allowed in back yards.
The provincial ban prohibits the use of all wood, briquette and propane/natural gas fires, including those contained in designated fire facilities and portable fire pits, but gas and propane stoves, when approved for cooking, are allowed.
The province wide ban does not extend to mountain natural parks including Banff, Jasper, Yoho, Kootenay and Waterton.
In Rockyview County, the fire threat has been elavated to its highest level.
People who ignore bans face a fine up to $5,000, plus the costs associated with fighting any fire that results.
A travel ban is also in place for Lakeland Provincial Park and Lakeland Provincial Recreation Area for travel into the backcountry on all trails due to the severe weather conditions.
A wind-fuelled forest fire razed at least 30 per cent of Slave Lake, north of Edmonton, on Sunday, forcing 7,000 residents to flee and destroying an unknown number of homes, as well as the town’s municipal centre and library.
In addition to the fire ban, temporary liquor bans will be in effect over the long weekend at some provincial parks.
Nine sites are included in the ban, which goes into effect at noon on Thursday and lasts until Monday.
The province says the ban is the most effective tool in preventing inappropriate, liquor-related problems.
Temporary bans have been used at select sites since 2004.
Liquor bans are in effect at:
Aspen Beach Provincial Park
Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park
Dillberry Lake Provincial Park
Garner Lake Provincial Park
Jarvis Bay Provincial Park
Miquelon Lake Provincial Park
Pigeon Lake Provincial Park
Wabamun Provincial Park
Whitney Lakes Provincial Park
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.