Fire weather advisory issued for central and southern Alberta

• Fire Prevention Notice Issued for MD of Pincher Creek No. 9
• Fire Hazards at extreme levels in central and southern Alberta 
• Pincher Creek responds to fence post on fire
• Burning Permits cancelled with the Forest Protection Area of Alberta
• Prescribed fires in Waterton Lakes National Park have been cancelled

Dry conditions and expected winds between 70 and 80 kilometres per hour will push the fire hazard to extreme levels today and tomorrow. Albertans are advised to take extreme caution.

A Fire Prevention Notice was issued on May 6, 2013 for the MD of Pincher Creek No. 9 and is still in effect.  Fuel conditions are modifying with the green grass coming.  In this area there is still a lot of old cured grass so the conditions still require caution.  Warm, dry, windy conditions make for dangerous burning conditions. Please be careful and call 911 immediately if you see a fire.

If a wildfire does occur, especially in grassy areas, conditions may cause uncontrollable spread, making it difficult for firefighters to contain the wildfire. Fire weather advisories are only issued when the likelihood of uncontrolled wildfires is high.

All burning permits within the Forest Protection Area of Alberta have been cancelled and no new permits will be issued. All burning outside of campfires should be extinguished.  For a map of the Forest Protection Area click here.

Wildfires that burn during this time of year are predominantly human-caused and are 100 per cent preventable. Many areas across the province have fire bans or fire advisories in effect.

Current wildfire conditions are updated regularly by Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (click here).

Pincher Creek Emergency Services responded to a small fire yesterday May 11 at around 2:00 pm.  A fence post near the Co-op Bulk Fuel station was ablaze, cause undetermined.  Engine 11 and Engine 43 responded but Engine 11 stood down, as the fire was extinguished within 5 minutes.

Parks Canada will not be carrying out previously planned prescribed fires in the “Y-Camp” or other Burn Units in Waterton Lakes National Park this spring.