As a result of recent hot and dry weather, Rocky View County (RVC) issued a fire advisory Aug. 6.
According to the County's website, a fire advisory bans permit burning in the county, with some exceptions, and suspends all outstanding fireworks permits.
Exceptions to the ban include internal household fire places, incinerators for farm and acreage use, burning barrels, camp stoves and solid fuel barbecues that use charcoal briquettes. Propane or natural gas barbecues, fire pits, chimeneas and recreational campfires – those that are within an approved burn pit of 24 inches diamater or less – are also permitted.
Fires contained within approved facilities and appliances in designated camping or recreational areas are also allowed, according to RVC's website, while oil well flaring must be registered with central fire dispatch, which can be reached at 403-264-1022.
Despite steady rainfall the night of Aug. 6, RVC Fire Chief Randy Smith confirmed the fire advisory was still in effect, as of Aug. 7 at 11 a.m.
“The rain was a good thing, but we need a little bit more rain before we feel really comfortable,” he said. "What we'd like to see is a couple more days of moisture before we drop the fire advisory. If we're lucky and see a little more rain today and tomorrow, we might consider dropping it."
RVC residents can find out when a fire ban or advisory has been declared through the Alberta Fire Bans website, the County’s Fire Ban Information Line at 403.520.6310, or the Safe & Sound program.
Any person who ignites, fuels, supervises, maintains or permits an outdoor fire within the municipal boundaries of RVC during a fire ban can be fined $1,000, according to the County's website. Should the fire get out of control and emergency fire response is required, the person responsible for the fire can be charged the full firefighting costs.
