You wouldn’t know judging by the amount of snow remaining on the ground, but fire season is upon us. With it comes a message to Albertans, including those in the Peace Country, to once again be cognizant of the risks associated with fire hazards at this seasonal period of transition. That educational reminder falls on the heels of a large scale wildfire just east of Calgary near Springbank late last month, which was caused by an Alberta man using a propane device designed to kill gophers. (And no it wasn’t Bill Murray, the crazed greenskeeper in the movie Caddyshack) The March 22 blaze, fuelled by dry conditions and strong winds, destroyed barns and vehicles in Springbank and forced some people to flee their homes. Thankfully, there were no injuries. Just another valuable lesson learned the hard way. Comparatively speaking, the wildfire season is much more of a concern presently in southern Alberta than here in the Peace River Wildfire Management Protection Area. Much of that is attributed to near normal snowfall values in our neck of the woods this past winter. That fact combined with a gradual warm-up period during the past few weeks is lending itself to a relatively gradual thaw and low fire hazard. However, it’s the time frame immediately following the annual spring thaw which is routinely a cause for concern for Alberta Sustainable Resource Development and local firefighting officials alike. The official start of the fire season began April 1, bringing with it a reminder from Alberta Sustainable Resource Development for Albertans to take extra care when considering any form of spring burning measures. The government department is also advising anyone who conducted a burn last fall or winter to return to the exact location and ensure the fire is completely out. Yes, believe it or not, fires which are not completely extinguished – commonly referred to as holdover fires – can smolder underground for weeks and months prior to reigniting as the weather warms up. Wildfire management staff in Peace River say roughly 60 percent of all wildfires reported in Alberta each year are directly attributed by lightning strikes – something fire experts have little control over. But it’s the remaining 40 per cent of fires (all man-made) which wildfire management officials are trying to snuff out once and for all. That includes the irresponsible practices of individuals who carelessly dispose of lit cigarettes from moving vehicles, burn without a proper permit, or fail to fully extinguish campfires. Even a hot exhaust system on a vehicle or quad near tall, dry grass can ignite a fire. Fire permits are a mandatory requirement for anyone interested in carrying out a controlled burn, and are regulated by the Peace Wildfire Management Area. During fire season, permits are required to conduct any burning activity – excluding lighting a campfire – within the province’s Forest Protection Area. Permits are free and available at any Alberta Sustainable Resource Development office or at your municipal district or county office. Residents also need to be aware that they can be held liable for any structural, environmental or fire suppression costs related to burning, regardless of whether you have a permit or not. Do your part to help reduce the potential fire risk this spring by being a responsible, fire smart Albertan. That includes calling 310-FIRE if you witness a fire.

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