Fire ban in effect for M.D. due to dry grass and high winds

The Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority along with Alberta Parks has issued a fire ban in place for the entire M.D. of Bonnyville area.

“Alberta Parks decided that they were going to follow suit with a fire ban in the parks that are in the M.D. and it was decided that based on the risk with high winds and the temperature coming in the next week it is necessary to put the fire ban on for this morning as of 11 o’clock,” said BRFA fire chief Jay Melvin.

This fire ban includes the Summer Village of Bonnyville Beach, Summer Village of Pelican Narrows, and the Village of Glendon.

All fire permits are suspended and no new fire permits will be issued. The fire ban does not apply to Cities and Towns.

“The dry grass and the risk is just too high and the winds just don’t seem to be slowing down over the next week,” Melvin said.

“In the event we have a significant incident it could be catastrophic depending on where it was started. We need to protect ourselves from the wildfire threat.”

Prohibited:

• All open fires including campfires, backcountry, and random camping areas and backyard
  fire pits and burn barrels.
• Charcoal briquettes, turkey fryers, and tiki torches.
• Fireworks and exploding targets.
• The use of off-highway vehicles for recreational use on all public lands.

Allowed:

• Portable propane fire pits that are CSA approved or UL certified.
• Gas or propane stoves and barbecues that are CSA approved or UL certified and are
  designed for cooking or heating.
• Catalytic or infrared-style heaters.
• Fires contained in industrial facilities or on industrial sites as approved by a forest officer.

The OHV Restriction does allow:

• The OHV Restriction does allow:
• Indigenous people for traditional use.
• Commercial/industrial operations which require OHV.
• Agricultural use.
• Use on private land.

“It was just one of those things that had to be done.

“We did have some moisture earlier in the week, but the issue is the really dry grass that’s out there and the high winds that are expected could cause some problems,” said Melvin.

As per M.D. of Bonnyville Fire Bylaw No. 1522, any person burning or discharging fireworks in contravention of this Fire Ban may be liable to a fine and for the total cost of any type of emergency response and mitigation service required to bring a fire under control.

The Fire Ban and Off-Highway Vehicle Restriction will remain in effect until conditions improve.

For further information, please contact the Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority at 780-826-4755.