Extremely dry conditions continue, and fire bans have extended around the area and threaten to put a damper on the May long weekend, long known as the beginning of Sylvan Lake summer.
Lacombe and Red Deer Counties have instituted fire bans. As well, the Town of Sylvan Lake and the summer villages of Norglenwold, Jarvis Bay, Sunbreaker Cove and Birchcliff have all declared fire bans.
The town’s fire ban was imposed at 10 a.m. last Thursday by Fire Chief Cliff Brausen. It includes use of incinerators (for farm and acreage use), camp stoves, solid fuel barbecues (charcoal briquettes), recreational camp fires and chimeneas. The only exemptions are internal household fireplaces and liquid fuel (propane and natural gas) barbecues.
Lacombe County was the most recent to declared a county-wide ban, at 10 a.m. Monday after upgrading from a fire prevention notice.
The county’s ban suspends all outstanding fire permits and requires all outdoor fires presently burning, whether set under the authority of a fire permit or not, be extinguished, according to a notice from Keith Boras, manager of environmental and protective services.
Burning barrels may be used provided they are covered with a metal mesh screen with openings no larger than 13 mm (1/2”). Campfires used for cooking or warming purposes are allowed provided they are contained in a fire pit or campsite stove and are attended at all times. (See more details on the county’s website).
Red Deer County’s ban, issued May 4 by Fire Chief Tom Metzger, required all outdoor fires to be extinguished and prohibits the ignition of all outdoor fires.
The ban doesn’t apply to fires contained within cooking and heating appliances which are fuelled by fluids, gases or charcoal briquettes or fires contained within industrial facilities for operational purposes.
At Jarvis Bay Provincial Camp there’s a fire ban which prohibits the use of all wood, briquette and propane or natural gas fires and campfires, including fires contained in designated fire facilities. The only thing permitted at the campground is gas or propane stoves and barbecues when they’re approved for cooking.
A temporary liquor ban is also in effect from noon Thursday to 6 p.m. Monday at the provincial park. The ban applies to all campgrounds and group campgrounds and prohibits possession and consumption of liquor, according to the park’s website.
For more on fire bans in Alberta check the provincial website at https://albertafirebans.ca/
(This information was accurate to press time Tuesday evening.)