Series of fire calls in and around Canmore prompt safety reminder

CANMORE – As temperatures continue to rise, so do fire hazards, and Canmore Fire-Rescue wants to remind residents how quickly a wildfire can start.

“We have had four fire calls that we would deem wildland fires since the end of July … the fire hazard is still high for the forest area we are in and we still have a fire advisory as well,” Canmore Fire-Rescue deputy Chief Keri Martens said.

On top of river rescues, assisting medical calls and checking alarm bells, the local fire department directly responded to three fire calls in the last three weeks. One call was for an illegal campsite where an illegal fire was left smouldering, one call was for a legal but improperly disposed of fire pit where the embers were still hot and restarted in the heat and another call for a brush fire that took off between Harvie Heights and Canmore, which is still under investigation.

The deputy chief also said there was a call for a fire in the MD of Bighorn around Exshaw, but the Canmore fire department was stood down before arriving at the scene.

♨️HEAT WARNING♨️
Issued at 15:32pm
Temperatures reaching 29 degrees Celsius combined with overnight lows near 14 degrees Celsius are expected for the next 3 days.
— Canmore Fire Rescue (@CanmoreFireRes) August 15, 2020

“The fire hazard is high and we’ve been hovering around high to very high [most of the summer] … and what that does is, it cures all the grasses and trees and everything becomes really dry and that makes the environment really ripe for wildfires,” Martens said.

Canmore and the MD of Bighorn are currently under fire advisories, meaning safe and legal campfires are allowed, existing fire permits are still valid but no new fire permits will be issued and fireworks are prohibited.

When determining fire bans or advisories, the local fire department considers the current and forecasted weather conditions, local fire hazards, the amount of moisture in vegetation, the availability of responders and equipment, and the regional wildfire situation.

“Regardless of whether we have a fire advisory or not, there are Town laws that exist around fire pits, [for example] how it should be built in the ground or in a stone or brick enclosure – there are rules for having fires in the town of Canmore and at no time should you be building fires,” Martens said.

“Because of the fire advisory, anything outside of an approved fire pit is not allowed right now, only wood-burning fires in your fire ring or backyard pit.”

ENGINE-2 is responding for reports of a tree on fire, on or near Three Sisters' Drive.
— Canmore Fire Rescue (@CanmoreFireRes) August 11, 2020

The local fire department also stressed the importance of putting out a fire properly to ensure it doesn’t start up again.

“It’s always a good idea to make sure when you are with your fire pit to have a bucket of water handy in case you need it, and when you leave the fire to make sure the flames and coals are well doused – it should be cool to the touch,” the deputy fire chief said.

As of Monday (Aug. 17) afternoon, Alberta Parks had 14 fire advisories issued across the province but none in the Bow Valley. On the COVID-19 response statement, officials noted campfires are currently permitted for visitors to Alberta Parks and the users of public land, but asked Albertans exercise safety to ensure resources are not exhausted on human-caused wildfire.

“Do not leave your campfire unattended and fully extinguish your fire when you leave. The most efficient practice to extinguish a campfire is to soak it, stir it and soak it again. Campfires in provincial parks and provincial recreation areas are restricted to designated fire rings,” officials wrote, noting backcountry travellers should use camp stoves.

Since March 1, in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta there have been more than 390 fires burning 741.65 hectares.

Visit canmore.ca, mdbighorn.ca or albertaparks.ca for more information on current fire advisories and bans.

What is allowed in the Town of Canmore?