As warmer weather begins to melt the accumulation of snow and herald spring conditions, officials are reminding residents that fire season begins March 1.
That means there is only about a week left before landowners living within the Forest Protection Area who plan a controlled burn are required to first obtain a permit.
Anyone planning to get a burn done before fire season officially starts is urged to follow some safety procedures to prevent the potential of a blaze breaking out of control.
These measures include but are not limited to the following: monitor the burn until it is completely out; only burn what can be controlled with the equipment and people available; and to ensure that brush piles or debris windrows are free of soil and built to a maximum height of three metres with a fireguard or cleared land around it to prevent the spread of fire, wrote Barry Shellian, wildfire information officer for the Rocky Forest Area, in a press release.
Following a burn, any remaining material in the pile should be spread out and soaked with water as required. The surrounding area should also be checked to ensure that neither heat nor smoke is still being produced by the pile, he said.
"It should be cool to the touch."
He added the burn site should be inspected multiple times over the following days to make sure the fire has not reignited.
"Please do your part to prevent wildfires this spring by making sure your winter burns are extinguished. A fire left smouldering can burn under the snow all winter and emerge as a wildfire in the spring when conditions are warm and dry."
Visit firepermits.alberta.ca or call toll free 403-310-000 for more information.
To report a wildfire, call 403-310-3473 (FIRE).
