Extra Caution Required In The Newly Exposed Dry Grass  

The snow has begun to melt away, exposing the dry grasses from last fall.  These dry grasses are very easy to ignite and wildfires will spread very quickly in these conditions.  Please exercise caution when spending time in the forest this time of year.  

Be sure to extinguish your campfires

Soak it with water, stir it up and soak it again. The ashes should be cool to the touch.

Keep your OHV clean

The hot areas on your OHV can collect dried grasses and other debris and start a wildfire.  Please clean your quad regularly throughout the day and carry a bucket with you to help in the event of a starting a wildfire.

Double check your winter brush piles

When checking your brushpiles, spread around any remaining debris so you can probe the area for hotspots. Use your bare hand to feel for heat over the ash piles. If you see smoke or feel any heat, the fire is still burning beneath the surface. Douse any remaining hot spots with water and stir up the ashes. A fire is not completely extinguished until there is absolutely no heat emanating from the ashes.

Before you burn it, get your permit

Beginning March 1st, all burning activities in Alberta’s Forest Protection Area, excluding campfires, require a fire permit. Fire permits are free and available at your local Agriculture and Forestry office.  You can call 780-624-6190 for more information or to obtain you free fire permit. Due to the dry grass hazard, some burn permits may be denied until the area receives some precipitation.

Hazard reduction burning season has begun

The annual practice of burning dry grasses in order to prevent dangerous grass fires within communities has commenced.  All such burns are carried out and fully supervised by trained personnel.  This year, burning will once again occur within Little Buffalo, Cadotte Lake, Manning and Peace River.

We will be working in co-operation with the Town of Peace River to accomplish some hazard reduction burning within the town early next week.  Please visit the Town of Peace River on Facebook or see the link below for more information.

http://peaceriver.ca/hazard-reduction/ 

Share your thoughts

Alberta Agriculture and Forestry’s Wildfire Management Branch is seeking input on proposed amendments to the Forest and Prairie Protection Act and associated regulations. The two primary associated regulations are the Forest and Prairie Protection Regulations, Part I and the Forest and Prairie Protection Regulations, Part II. You do not need to be familiar with the legislation and regulations to complete the survey.

The goal of the proposed legislative and regulatory amendments is to:

• Update the fine levels and structure to align with other similar provincial legislation,
• Clarify wording to better reflect and support current operational practices in the field, and
• Complete any required consequential administrative amendments (e.g. terminology and form updates)

There is a discussion paper attached to the survey that provides further detail on the proposed amendments.

There is also the opportunity to suggest additional amendments at the end of the survey.

The survey closes on Friday, April 15, 2016, responses need to be completed by the closing date to be included in the online post-survey summary.

Link to survey https://extranet.gov.ab.ca/opinio6//s?s=27402

For more information contact:

Crystal Burrows - Wildfire Information Officer

(780) 618-6215

crystal.burrows@gov.ab.ca