Intermittent rain combined with cooler temperatures continues to temper wildfire danger in the Grande Prairie Forest Area.
If you're heading out camping or hunting this weekend, be sure to put out your campfire before you leave. Soak it, stir it and soak it again. If a campfire facility is not provided, make sure to build a good ring out of stones and locate it away from overhanging branches, out of the wind, and on bare mineral soil.
How do Off-highway vehicle start wildfires? Off-highway vehicle (OHV) exhaust is extremely hot, reaching temperatures of 204 Celsius, the flash point for most forest fuels. When riders travel through wet areas, muskeg can build up on the exhaust and next to the engine hot spots. As the rider travels, the muskeg dries out and is ignited by the hot engine. These burning pieces of muskeg fall off into dry grass causing a wildfire.
BEFORE YOU BURN IT, GET YOUR PERMIT
- Fire permits are free and you can get more information or request a fire permit by calling our Grande Prairie Fire Center office at 780-538-5560.
- Please call our office in advance of when you would like to burn in order to give our staff time to make arrangements to come out to your site and issue your permit.
- Remember that you must evaluate the weather at your specific location and follow the conditions stated on your permit. You can be held responsible if a fire escapes the burn permit area.
- All permits must be completely extinguished before they expire.