Staff
Lacombe County has issued a countywide fire ban that took effect at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 5 and will be in effect until further notice.
“Due to extremely dry conditions, a fire ban has been imposed for all of Lacombe County. This ban prohibits the issuance of fire permits by Lacombe County fire guardians, suspends all outstanding fire permits issued under the Forest and Prairie Protection Act, (and) requires that all outdoor fires presently burning, whether set under the authority of a fire permit or not, be extinguished,” said a statement released by the County.
The ban however, doesn’t necessarily mean people have to go without food or warmth.
“This ban allows campfires used for cooking or warming purposes provided they are contained in a fire pit or campsite stove and are attended at all times,” the statement continued. “For clarification, a fire pit is considered a hole in the ground at least 30 centimetres or 12 inches deep or a fireproof side enclosure 30 centimetres or 12 inches high. The fire pit must not be larger than 100 centimetres or 40 inches in diameter.”
The County also added that the fire ban does not apply to fire that are contained inside cooking and heating appliances which are fuelled by solid (charcoal briquettes) or liquid (propane, natural gas) fuel as well as fires contained in industrial facilities or on industrial sites approved by a forest officer.
Burnable material will continue to be accepted at Waste Transfer Stations in the County throughout the ban.
“A person who sets a fire not allowed under this ban will be responsible for the costs of extinguishing the fire pursuant to Lacombe County Policy F(1) and may be charged under the Forest and Prairie Protection Act,”