Fields, ditches and yards across much of Alberta are drier than ever and it’s causing huge concerns over the high fire hazard that presents.
The situation prompted the Town of Ponoka and Ponoka County to issue a complete fire ban one week ago - Wednesday, April 6 - upgrading it from an advisory they issued just a day earlier. Lacombe County issued a ban on Monday, April 4 while Camrose County imposed a ban on Tuesday, April 5.
All of the fire bans are in place under further notice and includes no open fires of any kind, which means burning barrels must not be used and no use of backyard fire pits. In addition all fire permits have been cancelled and new ones will not be issued as well as the sale and discharging of any fireworks has been suspended.
However, the use of gas and propane barbecues is still allowed.
Ponoka Fire Department Chief Jamie Wilkinson explained the reason behind issuing the ban so early is due to the severely dry conditions in the town and surrounding region.
“The town and county issued the fire ban simultaneously in order to reduce the chance of a large grass or brush fire that would tie up our resources,”stated Chief Wilkinson.
The ban came after the Ponoka Fire Department responded to six grass fires over a four day period, in addition to a large fire crews attended to on Friday, April 8 about 25 kilometres southeast of Ponoka near Highway 821 and Township Road 422.
“It’s just not safe to burn at all,” stated Chief Wilkinson.
“It just takes one small thing and a fire can spread quickly right now. And people have been fairly good about observing the ban, we’ve only had to go out a couple of times to advise people they can’t have a fire going.”
Meanwhile, Ponoka County Regional Fire Chief Dennis Jones stated the moisture content is extremely low throughout the county and that the ban will likely be in place until the region receives some significant rainfall.
Information on the ban can be obtained by contacting the Town of Ponoka or Ponoka County through their offices or via each municipality’s website.