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By Alex McCuaig

Fire bans in counties

Fire risk remains extreme in southeast Alberta

Sep 11, 2020 | 4:41 PM

DUNMORE, AB – A fire ban continues to be in place for both the County of 40 Mile and Cypress County as fire risks in southeastern Alberta remain extreme. But it’s the same conditions which led to a fairly calm summer that are now posing a risk for the fall.

The wet spring kept the risk low for much of the summer but it also led to increased vegetation growth across the region’s rangeland.

That vegetation has now died off, leading to a higher amount of material which can burn, says Deputy Fire Chief John McBain.

“We usually see fire season – it could be as early as June, right through the summer but this year we got lucky,” said McBain. “We got moisture which increased our fuel load. Unfortunately, not that has dried out and it’s created a very high fire hazard.”

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McBain says rural residents have been complying with the ban and that fires sparked from improperly disposed of cigarettes appear to be on the decline.

However, all fire permits in both counties remain cancelled and the fire ban place includes the use of fireworks.