By Lara Fominoff - @fomsy1 on Twitter

March 1st marks the beginning of Alberta’s wildfire season

Feb 28, 2017 | 3:46 PM

LETHBRIDGE – Even though southern Alberta has been hit with several feet of snow this winter, that doesn’t necessarily mean that there won’t be an active wildfire season this spring.

Information Officer Matthew Anderson says their records show that wildfire season is beginning earlier in the springtime, and their crews need to be ready.

“As you know here in the southern portion of the province, we have Chinooks. So we can have several feet of snow, and then a Chinook will come through and clear off a lot of it. What can be the risk there, is the exposed grass. So if the snow gets cleared off, exposes the cured grass, then there’s the potential for a wildfire or grass fire.”

Last year, more than 60% of the fires in Alberta were human caused. And because of the affinity for Off Highway riding in Forest Protection Areas, it’s important for those who enjoy the back country to be especially mindful of their vehicles, equipment and campfires.

“When you’re in the Forest Protection Area, recreation is one of the biggest things, so there’s always the potential for forest fires to be ignited from Off Highway Vehicles where you have hot spots, you get dry grass and mud cures up on top of the exhaust that can fall off and start a wildfire behind you.”

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He says vigilance is the key.

“You have to ensure that your campfires are always reasonably sized and attended at all times and make sure they’re properly extinguished when you leave. You have to soak them, stir them, and soak them again to make sure they’re thoroughly out.”

Beginning March 1st, all burning activities in the Forest Protection Area will need to have a permit, with the exception of campfires.

The new Forest and Prairie Protection Act also increases penalties for those who abandon their campfires or burn during fire bans.

Last year, 1,338 wildfires burned more than 611,000 hectares, including the Horse River wildfire that spread into Fort McMurray.

by Lara Fominoff - @fomsy1 on Twitter

March 1st marks the beginning of Alberta’s wildfire season

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