Fire ban in effect for Medicine Hat

Medicine Hat Fire Chief Brain Stauth says the fire risk all over the southern part of the province is extreme right now.

“We haven’t had any significant precipitation for some time. All of the vines that lay in the vegetation that grows in our coulees and hills and open spaces is absolutely tinder dry. We’ve got an extended heat wave here and expected to be here for at least a week,” he says.

Even with the ban in place, fire and emergency services are permitting the Canada Day fireworks display is being allowed to proceed at this time. The city says extra precautions will be arranged with the fireworks contractor to prevent site fires.

Fireworks display permits contain conditions related to weather including wind speed maximums and shows are subject to cancellations if conditions are unsafe. As well, consumer fireworks are not permitted at any time within the City of Medicine Hat as per Bylaw 4602.

Saturday’s large grass fire was sparked by farming equipment and Stauth says that’s the nature of the job.

“I think if at all possible farmers that can have a water tank on standby on a truck or trailer is helpful,” he says. “And certainly have a suitable sie fire extinguisher on whatever piece of equipment they’re operating so if they do happen to start a fire with a piece of equipment from a rock strike or overheated bearing or such they’ve got at least an opportunity to put it out before it gets away.”

He also asks people to stop throwing cigarette butts out of vehicle windows and to keep their vehicles on the paved roads and off the prairie.

“An errant cigarette butt can start an amazingly large fire if there’s wind of any kind. We just can’t afford that risk at any time let alone in the middle of an extreme fire risk situation like this,” he says.

Saturday’s grass fire drew a large number of people to the area, with many stopping along the road to take pictures.

Stauth says that creates more problems for emergency services and makes it difficult for them to do their jobs.

“Our folks and police services and the folks that come to help us put these fires out need room to work,” he says. “It’s difficult to access a situation or a location when folks are coming up to have a look. And the worst thing we can have from the public is coming up, vehicles clogging our access ways into these places. So I really encourage folks just to stay home and pay attention to media and social media for updates.”

The fire chief says Cypress County, Redcliff and Methanex firefighters all helped with Saturday’s grass fire as did a number of private water haulers.

“I don’t even have the entire list yet but I just want to say thanks for the help that we received from everyone. It was a risky situation but because we had expedient help we were able to get a real hazardous situation under control.”

by Chris Brown

Fire ban in effect for Medicine Hat

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