MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY – As the premier’s office issued a statement earlier today announcing the activation of an emergency management cabinet committee due to the increasing number of wildfires raging around Alberta, fire bans that were already in place in areas including the Rocky Mountain House Forest Protection Area have been expanded to include restrictions on off-highway vehicles.
Conditions are so dry that the fire ban and restriction on off-highway vehicles is now officially in effect for the entire Forest Protection Area of the whole province.
Under the ban, all existing fire permits are suspended or cancelled and no new fire permits will be issued for the time being.
Meanwhile, prohibited are all outdoor wood fires including wood campfires on public lands as well as wood campfires on private land and provincial campgrounds; backyard fire pits; BBQ charcoal briquettes; the use of fireworks and exploding targets; and the recreational use of off-highway vehicles (OHV) on public lands, including designated trails.
Still allowed are: propane or natural gas-powered appliances; open flame oil devices such as turkey deep fryers and tiki torches; and indoor wood fires contained within a device with a chimney and spark arrestor. Appliances must all be CSA approved and used as per manufacturer’s standards.
The use of OHVs on private land remains permitted. Additionally, Indigenous people may continue to use an OHV for traditional purposes such as hunting, fishing and trapping, while essential industry-related activities that require the use of OHVs also remain allowable.
“This is a very serious ongoing situation,” reads a portion of the provincial government’s press release that was issued earlier today on May 5, adding updates will be made public as they become available.
In the meantime, people can download the Alberta Emergency Alert mobile app, which promptly pushes out all emergency alerts to subscribers, while up-to-the-minute information is available online by visiting Alberta Emergency Alert.
Updates are also available on www.albertafirebans.ca, and anyone who sees a wildfire is asked to immediately report the sighting by calling 310-3473 (FIRE).
The fire ban and restriction on off-highway vehicles will remain in effect until further notice once conditions are deemed suitable.
