By CHAT News Today

Province announces off-highway vehicle ban in Forest Protection Area

Aug 1, 2017 | 1:30 PM

EDMONTON — The provincial government announced Tuesday it is restricting the use of off-highway vehicles (OHVs) in the forest areas of southern Alberta in an effort to help prevent wildfires.

The vehicles will not be allowed to operate on public lands in the Forest Protection Area, which runs south of the Red Deer River along the mountains and foothills to the northern boundary of Waterton Lakes National Park. The measure was brought in to help reduce the risk of wildfires in the area.

“We are closely monitoring the situation as the fire hazard is reaching extreme levels throughout the forest in Southern Alberta,” said Oneil Carlier, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, in a statement. “Any fire that starts could spread out of control in a very short time, that’s why we are taking additional steps to reduce the chance of any human caused fires starting.”

The weather in the region has been hot and dry and the fire conditions have reached extreme levels. Extended hot, dry weather is forecast well into next week. A fire ban is currently in place in the Forest Protection Area.

Currently, no fires are permitted during the fire ban, including campfires in campgrounds, until further notice.

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Gas or propane stoves/barbecues and portable propane fire pits are allowed during the ban.

All fire permits are suspended and no new permits will be issued in the fire ban areas. The use of fireworks and exploding targets is also prohibited.

Albertans found to be violating the fire ban could be issued a $287 ticket.

Alberta currently has 689 firefighters, 69 helicopters, 40 pieces of heavy equipment and 18 airtankers available across the province. An additional 200 are deployed in British Columbia. Those resources are available if required.

A full list of fire bans can be found at www.albertafirebans.ca.