“The fire ban will stay on until we get a small rain that will get the green grass growing or a real soaker that eliminates the fire hazard.” This was the update provided by Mike Zajac, Director of Emergency Services to the County of Wetaskiwin Council General, at their meeting on Tuesday, May 12th, 2015. Zajac also advised Council that he has no intention of removing the fire ban until it is deemed safe to do so. “I have no intention of changing the status until we know the risk of fires is at a safe status. Removing a ban and then having to implement a ban shortly after and then removing it again is confusing for the residents and very labor intensive for County staff to respond to inquiries and other tasks such as installing and removing ‘Fire Ban’ signs.”
From Advisory to Restriction to Ban
April 20, 2015.A Fire Advisory issued for the County of Wetaskiwin on April 20, 2015.
“Due to the dry, windy conditions and warming temperatures, the County of Wetaskiwin No. 10 will not be authorizing any new Fire Permits until further notice, also, currently issued Fire Permits are suspended. As per County of Wetaskiwin No. 10 Fire Services Bylaw 2012/07, Section 11, the Fire Advisory will be in effect until the Chief Administrative Officer deems appropriate to change.”
There were some exemptions to the Fire Advisory:
- Internal household fire places.
- Incinerators (for farm and acreage use).
- Regulated burning barrels.
- Camp stoves.
- Solid fuel barbeque (charcoal briquettes).
- Liquid fueled barbeque (propane & natural gas).
- Recreational camp fires in an approved fire pit, with grate covering.
- Chimneys.
- Fires contained within approved facilities and appliances in designated camping and recreational areas.
April 23, 2015 it was deemed necessary to upgrade the status from a Fire Advisory to a Fire Restriction. Fire Ban. Some exemptions include:
- Internal household fire places.
- Incinerators (for farm and acreage use).
- Regulated burning barrels.
- Camp stoves.
- Solid fuel barbeque (charcoal briquettes).
- Liquid fueled barbeque (propane & natural gas).
- Recreational camp fires in an approved fire pit, with grate covering.
- Chimneys.
- Fires contained within approved facilities and appliances in designated camping and recreational areas.
Total Fire Ban - Effective May 1, 2015 at 12:00 pm. “This is an update to the Fire Restriction. Effective at 12:00 pm, May 1, 2015 the County of Wetaskiwin No. 10 has changed from a Fire Restriction to a TOTAL FIRE BAN.”
Due to dry conditions, high fire hazard levels, and an increased level of grass fires within the County boundary, the County of Wetaskiwin has issued a total fire ban that affects the entire County. The total fire ban is effective May 1, 2015 at 12:00 pm until further notice.
- All fires within the County are banned. This requires all outdoor fires presently burning, be extinguished and the lighting of any outdoor fires is prohibited.
- This ban includes fire pits and burning barrels.
- The only exceptions are internal household fire places and fires which are contained in cooking and heating appliances fuelled by fluids or gases (approved propane fuelled fire pits, gas fuelled BBQ’s).
- Any fire permits issued are void and no new fire permits will be issued until the total fire ban has been lifted.
As per County of Wetaskiwin No. 10 Fire Services Bylaw 2012/07, Section 11, the Total Fire Ban will be in effect until the Chief Administrative Officer deems appropriate to change.
Zajac reported to Council that, “Since March 1, 2015 (until May 12th Council meeting) the outside fire calls by department are as follows:
- Buck Lake / Alder Flats 1
- Millet 10
- Mulhurst 2
- South Pigeon Lake 1
- Wetaskiwin 4
- Winfield 2
For a total of 20 fires.