WATCH ABOVE: Wildfire season officially kicked off on in Alberta on March 1 and already a large area south est of Calgary is under a fire ban. With the unseasonably warm weather we’ve been experiencing, what does it mean for wildfire potential in our province? Margeaux Morin finds out.
EDMONTON – The wildfire season in Alberta officially kicked off on March 1, and already the Alberta Fire Bans website is showing red with fire bans in effect.
Temperature swings this winter have left the snow pack thin through forested areas, and in the southern Alberta grasslands, the white stuff melted long ago.
Geoffrey Driscoll, a wildfire information officer with Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, works within his ministry’s jurisdiction and with other counties to keep Albertans up to speed on wildfire hazards.
“We’re seeing the dryer temperatures happen about two weeks earlier than we’re used to, and what that means is that anywhere the snow is gone, you’re going to have a high fire hazard.”
During the unseasonably warm and dry conditions like much of Alberta is experiencing this week, even the smallest of fires can be hugely destructive. Currently, both the Lethbridge and Vulcan counties, the municipal district of Taber, and the municipality of Crowsnest Pass have declared bans on all open fires. Further north, fire advisories are in place urging residents to be diligent in extinguishing their fires
“It only takes a little bit of wind and all of a sudden those fires are going to get really, really big,” Driscoll explained.
This year, a new scale has been adopted province-wide to better inform Albertans about the risk of wildfires. In past years, bans were either on or off, and harder to anticipate. This meant that outdoor enthusiasts were not able to plan for fire bans when packing for excursions.
The new approach features a stepped scale ranging from no restrictions, to an all out forest area closure if the risk of encountering a wildfire is imminent.
“If people are looking to go out and enjoy Alberta’s forests, it’s going to make it a lot easier for them to know if they can have a camp fire.”
Failure to comply with a fire ban can result in a hefty fine, and being found responsible for sparking a blaze will cost you a whole lot more.
“You can be held responsible for the costs of fighting that fire, so that can get really big really quickly,” said Driscoll.
The cost of a firefighting helicopter can be billed out at a couple thousand dollars per hour, in addition to the cost of firefighters, air tankers or property damage.
Although Alberta’s Capital Region is still low on the hazard scale, the warning of wildfire dangers is worth noting.
“A couple of days of warm temperatures and we can see a real high fire hazard. Especially in and around the Edmonton area,” said Driscoll.