(Adrian St.Onge/CHAT News)

By Adrian St.Onge

Vigilance regarding controlled burns is key: Alberta Wildfire, Cypress County brace for wildfire season

Feb 8, 2024 | 4:30 PM

There are currently 56 active wildfires burning in Alberta.

While none of them are listed as out of control, Wildfire Alberta put a notice on social media to be cautious when doing controlled burns this winter season.

Cypress County fought over 30 wildfires last year.

Due to warmer weather and less than seasonal average precipitation, the county is bracing for another active wildfire season.

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Cypress fire chief Jason Linton says that being proactive is important.

“Right now is a good time to clean up your yards, clean up your properties, do some fire smarting,” Linton told CHAT News on Thursday.

“We have a lot of moisture on the ground right now. We got a little bit of snow last week here in Cypress County,” he said.

“We do issue burn permits at this time for our rural residents so they can clean up their property, clean up any debris to reduce the fire risk as well as [reducing] the fire load at properties to shorten the wildfire season.”

Linton said the fire department is actively training new firefighters for the coming season and that the county is doing an urban firefighting course in Elkwater in March.

Click here to see current fire restrictions or to get a fire permit.