Citing dry, hot weather, officials with Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (ESRD) enacted a province-wide fire ban on May 25.
According to the Province on May 25,629 wildfires across Alberta have burned 13,098 hectares of land since April 1.
As of 11 a.m. on May 27, there were currently 62 wildfires burning across the province. The worst of these – a 200-hectare blaze - is located near the Hamlet of Wabasca in northern Alberta. Approximately 12,000 people in the area were forced to evacuate their homes on May 24 as a result of the fire.
The province-wide fire ban was applied to all of Alberta’s Fire Protection Area (FPA), which encompasses nearly two-thirds of the province, from the southwest corner, through Banff National Park to almost all of Alberta north of Athabasca.
The fire ban prohibits all open fires, including those at campsites or in the back-country. Portable propane fire pits and gas or propane stoves or barbecues are still permitted.
Rocky View County (RVC) declared a Level 1 Fire Ban on May 26 as well. Under a Level 1 ban, all burn permits are cancelled and new permits will not be issued. The use of household fireplaces, regulated burning barrels, camp stoves and recreational camp fires in an approved burn pit as well as barbecues are still allowed.
The City of Airdrie had not issued a fire ban as of press time.
According to a release issued by the ESRD on May 25, 1,300 firefighters and approximately 100 aircraft had been deployed to deal with the wildfires. Extra resources from Quebec and Ontario had also been sent to Alberta to assist firefighters on the ground and in the air.
To report a wildfire, call toll-free 310-FIRE (3473).
More information about wildfires in Alberta can be found online at wildfire.alberta.ca or by calling 1-866-FYI-FIRE (1-866-394-3473)
