Wildfire season officially began on March 1. Over the past month our patrolmen have been out to inspect burn sites and issue permits. Remember that you need a permit for any burning, other than a campfire, from now until October 31. Contact your patrolman or call the office at 780-623-9758 to arrange for your burning permit.
Changes to the Forest and Prairie Protection Act | Legislative and Regulatory Changes for this year.
The Alberta government is committed to protecting Albertans and their communities from the threat of wildfire. Many wildfires are caused by human-activity (approximately 70%) which means these fires are preventable.
Last fall legislation was passed to enhance wildfire prevention, to deter risky behaviour and give wildland firefighters more tools to keep Albertans and their communities safe.
These regulation changes help support the legislation by including:
- new penalties for abandoning campfires or burning during fire bans
- improving the government’s ability to restrict higher risk activities, like fireworks and incendiary targets
The regulations also include specific direction for Industry including:
- consistent flare site precautions - all flare pits and flare stacks to be cleared of debris for 30 metres
- aligned debris disposal timelines for all industries to 12 months
- new administrative penalties of up to $10,000 per offence per day, for failing to comply with the Act and regulations
In addition, the updated Act provides the authority to pursue the recovery of any economic gain resulting from a person’s actions. Administrative penalties will be determined by a statutory decision-maker on a case-by-case basis. Industrial users who knowingly contravene the Act and start a wildfire can be fined up to $1 million. For complete details click here.
There are currently no wildfires in the area.
For more information, please contact:
Leslie Lozinski
Area Information Co-ordinator
780-623-9758