On Thursday afternoon, Rocky View County Fire Services issued a fire advisory for both the East and West divisions of Rocky View County, effective immediately.

"This advisory represents a moderate fire risk and will remain in effect as long as conditions remain."

During a fire advisory burning and fireworks permits are suspended, and burning is banned, with the following exceptions:

  • Indoor household fireplaces
  • Incinerators (for farm and acreage use)
  • Burning barrels
  • Camp stoves (properly attended)
  • Barbecues (charcoal briquettes, propane, or natural gas)
  • Wood pellet grills
  • Propane/natural gas fire pit
  • Recreational campfires in an approved burn pit
  • Chimeneas
  • Fires contained within approved facilities and appliances in designated camping and recreational areas
  • Oil well flaring (must register with central fire dispatch at 403-264-1022).

Other important advisories include several from Alberta Wildfire. Yesterday, Alberta Wildfire enacted a fire advisory for the Calgary, Edson, Fort McMurray and Rocky Mountain House forest areas due to dry conditions.

"Although the fire danger remains low across much the Calgary Forest Area (CFA), this fire advisory is in place as a precautionary measure," Alberta Wildfire stated on its website. "Recent widespread snowfall has impacted almost all corners of the area and helped subdue the wildfire danger. More spring-like, warmer conditions are expected this week which will expedite the snow melt. Areas of exposed, dry vegetation will present increased risk over the coming days and weeks."

adaAlberta Wildfire has enacted a fire advisory for the Calgary, Edson, Fort McMurray and Rocky Mountain House forest areas due to dry conditions. (Photo credit to Alberta Wildfire / Government of Alberta) 
 

Under this advisory, existing fire permits remain valid, but extension requests may not be granted. New permits will be issued on a case-by-case basis, for essential burning only. However, campfires are allowed in both designated campgrounds and random camping areas, but fireworks and exploding targets are prohibited.

"We encourage any landowners who have done burning over the winter and that have had past fire permits to revisit the burn location to ensure these fires are fully extinguished."

Alberta Wildfire also added that they are continuing to bolster their resources in the CFA to be ready to respond to the 2024 wildfire season as activity increases.

"The CFA now has the wildland firefighting crews, the 20-person unit crew is growing, several new dispatchers are in place and various single resources are coming on board. The Elbow firebase is housing and feeding crews and both air tanker bases are open, ready to support incoming aircraft if needed."

Since January 1, the CFA has responded to four wildfires which burned a total of 0.66 hectares. They have all been extinguished. The fire advisory will remain in effect until conditions improve or further escalation is required.

In the northwestern part of Alberta, Alberta Wildfire has put into place fire restrictions in the Forest Protection Area surrounding the communities of Valleyview and Grande Prairie and west of the Peace River. This restriction affects existing fire permits and prohibits outdoor wood fires on public land.

Province-wide, 53 wildfires are burning across Alberta, and 42 of those fires are classified as carry-overfires. And while The City of Airdrie is not under any fire advisories or fire bans, there are predictions that this year's wildfire season may be the worst yet. Yesterday, the Government of Canada released its forecast and early modelling of weather trends for 2024.

"These metrics indicate that we may be facing another catastrophic fire season."

The federal government underlined that because this winter across the country saw warmer-than-normal temperatures and widespread drought conditions across the country, it has added to existing drought and low-water conditions.

"The latest seasonal weather outlook indicates that higher-than-normal temperatures are expected for the spring and summer, boosted by El Nino weather conditions. This sets the stage for the possibility of another active wildfire season and other incidents of extreme weather.  The warmer than normal winter temperatures and drier than usual conditions may result in some regions – in particular western Canada, eastern Ontario, and southern Quebec - experiencing early, above normal, fire activity this April and May."

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