The County of Grande Prairie Regional Fire Service has downgraded the Fire Ban for the county to a Fire Restriction as of 4:00 p.m. July 29th.
The change includes the entire county, along with the towns of Beaverlodge, Sexsmith, and Wembley, and aligns with Alberta Wildfire’s move to a Fire Restriction for the forest protection area that occurred the same day.
County Fire Chief Trevor Grant suggests that the recent cooler temperatures and precipitation observed in the area has been a “welcome relief” for the region; however, the Chief maintains that residents should still remain cautious of wildfire risks this summer.
“We urge residents to remain vigilant and report any signs of smoke by calling 911,” he says. “It’s important to only burn when absolutely necessary, as the risk of wildfires still exists across the region with approximately 125 active wildfires currently burning in Alberta.”
Under the restriction, permitted burning is allowed only in approved recreational fire pits, burn barrels, and propane-fired appliances.
Residents who hold an approved permit must follow the guidelines and safe burning practices, such as remaining on site until the burning is complete. Officials remind all residents that burning is never permitted when winds reach or are forecasted to reach 12 kilometers per hour or higher.
