Edmonton crews respond to brush fires in Mill Creek Ravine

Edmonton Fire and Rescue Services responded to two brush fires in the Mill Creek Ravine area Tuesday afternoon.

People working downtown — in the ATB Tower, MacEwan University’s Alberta College Campus and the Marriott Courtyard Hotel — reported seeing flames spreading quickly. Others reported smoke near the Old Timers Cabin.

EFRS was notified about a grass fire at 3:06 p.m. and crews had it under control by 3:28 p.m.

Watch below: Albert Delitala reports on a pair of brush fires that broke out in Edmonton’s river valley on Tuesday.

1:14 Fires break out in Edmonton’s river valley amid hot, dry conditions

However, EFRS then started receiving calls about a second fire a half kilometre away, also in the ravine. Four units responded. EFRS said that fire was under control as of about 7 p.m. and that an investigation into the fires was underway.

READ MORE: Alberta fire season 2019: Latest status of wildfires, bans and restrictions

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Alberta has been hot, dry and windy as of late. Smoke from the wildfire burning in northern Alberta near High Level is blowing south, lessening air quality. Edmonton and Calgary had an Air Quality Health Index of 4 on Tuesday (moderate), while it was 9 (high risk) further north.

READ MORE: Edmonton fire restriction means no open burning, fireworks

Watch below: Firefighters were busy responding to to brush fires in Edmonton’s river valley on Tuesday afternoon as the city is experiencing hot and dry conditions. Phil Darlington has details.

2:54 Blazes break out in Edmonton’s river valley amid hot, dry conditions

Edmonton enacted its own fire restriction Monday, banning open burning and fireworks. Open burning includes any controlled burns that are​ subject to conditions set in an open burning ​fire ​permit.

The restriction comes as the city’s fire weather index sits at the extreme level, the City of Edmonton said in a media release Monday.

— More to come…