Diamond Valley Fire Rescue is reminding residents to be fire safe. Photo by Stephen Strand
Diamond Valley Fire Rescue is reminding residents about fire safety, following multiple grassfires.
While it’s still winter, the current conditions are dry and favourable for fires to start and allow the fire to spread quickly.
On Wednesday (February 4) night, Diamond Valley Fire Rescue responded to a call to assist the Foothills Fire Department with a large grass fire south of Longview for several hours.
Then, this morning (Thursday February 5), Diamond Fire Rescue crews were out again, fighting another grass fire within their response area.
Because of that, the Diamond Valley Fire Rescue are reminding residents to help reduce the risk of wildfires.
To help reduce the risk of wildfires, the Diamond Valley Fire Rescue reminds residents to avoid burning or using fire pits in windy or dry conditions, properly discard smoking materials, be careful with any equipment that can create sparks, report smoke or fire immediately, be vigilant, and follow local fire restrictions.
Foothills County, which Diamond Valley resides within, implemented a Fire Restriction on February 2, due to the current conditions and the upcoming weather forecast for Foothills County, which has increased the overall fire danger.
Under this Fire Restriction, fire permits will not be issued for Class 1 and Class 2 fires, and all outstanding permits will be cancelled.
While there isn’t currently a Fire Ban, Foothills County residents are asked to use extra caution and be extra vigilant when burning what is allowed to be burned under this Restriction, and it is advised to soak the areas adjacent to open fire pits with water.
Under this Fire Restriction, safe residential fire pits and safe campfires in campgrounds are allowed, and so are gas or propane stoves and barbecues, charcoal briquette and solid fuel barbecues, chiminea, internal household fireplaces, wood pellet smokers, incinerators for farm or acreage use, and burning barrels.
This Restriction will remain in place until further notice, and it may be moved to a Fire Ban at anytime.
On February 4, Rocky View County and the Calgary Forest Area both implemented a Fire Advisory.
In Rocky View County, fire permits will not be issued for any fires, and any existing permits are suspended.
Meanwhile, indoor household fireplaces, incinerators, burning barrels, camp stoves, barbecues, wood pellet grills, propane and natural gas fire pit, recreational campfires in approved burn pits, chimeneas, and fires contained in an approved facility and appliances in designated camping and recreational areas are allowed.
In the Calgary Forest Area, while fire permits are not currently required, burning projects are strongly discouraged and should be delayed until the conditions improve.
Vulcan County and the M.D. of Willow Creek also implemented Fire Restrictions on February 2, limiting what people can burn.
To check on the state of Fire Advisories or Fire Bans in Alberta, click here.
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