With wildfire season just around the corner, firefighters are urging everyone who has conducted winter burning to go back and ensure the fires are out. With the dry conditions last fall and lack of moisture in the ground, there is potential for fires lit this winter to continue to burn under the snow and re-emerge as wildfires in the spring.

To prevent spring holdover wildfires revisit your brush pile or windrow burning projects to ensure the fires are extinguished.

  • Spread out the remaining material.
  • Soak the area and ensure both heat and smoke are no longer being produced.
  • Check your burn site multiple times in the coming weeks to ensure it has not reignited.

For information on brush pile and windrow safe burning practices, visit https://open.alberta.ca.

FIRE PERMITS

Starting March 1st, fire permits will be required for any burning, except campfires, in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta.

Fire permits help us track what is burning on the landscape. If you are burning without a permit or not following permit conditions, your fire could be considered a wildfire and you could be fined and may be responsible for the costs of suppressing the fire. By getting a fire permit, you help keep our firefighters free to fight real wildfires instead of responding to the smoke in your backyard.

Fire permits are free and are now available online. Visit www.alberta.ca/get-a-fire-permit for information on how to make a request online.

Fire permits are also still available by calling the High Level Forestry Office at 780-926-5407. Leave a message with your name, phone number, burn location and home location.

Information provided by the Government of Alberta