As the temperature in Edmonton continues to climb, city firefighters were called to deal with several grass fires along Jasper Avenue on Thursday.
Edmonton Fire Rescue Services (EFRS) was called at 1:13 p.m. to a hill just east of the Edmonton Convention Centre.
Crews arrived to find three small, separate fires at 1:17 p.m. All three fires were brought under control about five minutes later.
Two crews remained behind to ensure the fires were completely extinguished.
A spokesperson didn’t have any word on a cause of the fire as of 2 p.m. Thursday.
While the city of Edmonton doesn’t have a fire ban in place at this time, the region is under an extreme heat warning as temperatures are expected to soar into the 30s again over the next few days.
To prevent fires in hot, dry conditions, EFRS recommends the following tips:
- Always check if there is a fire restriction or ban in place before burning or setting off fireworks.
- Practice caution when using fire pits, barbecues, or open flames during dry and/or windy weather. It is important to never leave them unattended as stray embers have the potential to travel and ignite nearby combustibles or vegetation. Always ensure that embers and ashes are fully extinguished before leaving the area.
- Properly discard smoking materials to avoid undetected smouldering and potentially fires.
- If you are using electric fans or air conditioner units, check for frayed cords or other electrical fire hazards.
- Remove anything that can burn at least 1.5 metres from your home, including dead vegetation and waste.
- Attend a professional fireworks display instead of discharging them on your own. If you are planning to discharge fireworks in Edmonton, you must first obtain a permit.
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