As a result of the recent and ongoing rainfall, Ponoka County Regional Fire Services has lifted the Fire Advisory that was in place for the Town of Ponoka, effective June 14.
In the meantime, Ponoka County Regional Fire Services will continue to monitor fire conditions. Citizens are encouraged to be fire smart and use caution when using fire pits, outdoor fireplaces or barbeques on their property.
Fire pit safety
Never leave a fire pit unattended while in use, and be sure to completely extinguish the flames and hot embers after you are done with it.
All fire pits within the Town of Ponoka are required to:
• Be at least three metres from buildings, property lines, or anything else that could catch fire;
• Be equal to or less than 0.6 metres (two feet) high;
• Be equal to or less than one metre (three feet) wide; • Have fully enclosed sides made of bricks, concrete blocks, heavy-gauge metal or other non-combustible materials;
• Have a non-combustible mesh screen that covers the top of the fire pit with openings no larger than 1.25 cm (.5 inches) to stop sparks from flying out; and
• Have a water hose, fire extinguisher or some other acceptable means of controlling or extinguishing the fire nearby. For updates on the fire advisories and fire bans across Alberta, including the Town of Ponoka, please visit www.albertafirebans.ca/.