It may be the dead of winter, but a wildfire can still break out. A smouldering campfire was spotted in the Dunes area around 10 a.m. Wednesday morning, roughly a kilometre east of Evergreen Park.
Firefighters couldn’t drive in so they made their way on snowmobiles. The County of Grande Prairie Regional Fire Service was able to dig up and extinguish the fire before it spread, but it serves as a reminder of why open fires are illegal in the Dunes Natural Area.
Fire Chief Trevor Grant says the spot has one of the highest wildfire risks in the County, which is made even worse by the fact that much of the heavily forested area can’t be reached by vehicles. Anyone caught burning could face a fine up to $10,000 and significant charges.