Sweeping fire restrictions as province hopes for rain
Alberta wildfire experts are hoping rain can help combat the province's dry weather conditions as wildfires burning across the province prompted sweeping fire restrictions Wednesday.
The restrictions were issued in the province's forest protection areas with the exception of
Calgary's forest protection zone, which will remain under a fire advisory. All outdoor fires are now prohibited on public lands, including backcountry and random camping areas.
Forestry and Parks Minister Todd Loewen said the majority of wildfires seen so far this year are human-caused and warned Albertans to be diligent.
“These preventive measures play a crucial role in reducing human-caused wildfires when risk levels are high so far this season. We expect that almost all of the wildfires we've experienced so far this year are human-caused given the point we're at in the season and the types of weather we're seeing,” Loewen said Wednesday.
“That's why it's important that Albertans take necessary precautions and do everything they can to prevent human-caused wildfires.”
Loewen said the province will continue to add more firefighters to its ranks weekly as the 2024 wildfire season persists, but did not give a definitive number.
DAYS WORTH OF RAIN NEEDED
In Wednesday's weekly wildfire update, Josee St- Onge, an information unit manager with Alberta Wildfire, said that while the province is expected to see some rain on Wednesday evening and Thursday, conditions on the ground continue to be extremely dry.
“We're going to need a lot of rain throughout multiple days to make a real difference in the dry conditions we are seeing in the province,” St- Onge said in French. “It's a time of year that is critical for Alberta because the snow has melted and the vegetation is extremely flammable for a fire.”
As of 9 a.m. Wednesday, there were 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area. Of those wildfires, none are classified as out of control, seven are being classified as held and 56 are under control.
The province has responded to 205 wildfires in the forest protection area since the start of the year, burning roughly 755 hectares. The five-year average for this time of year is 120 wildfires with around 230 hectares burned, St- Onge said.
Alysa Pederson, a warning preparedness meteorologist for Alberta with Environment and Climate Change Canada, said seasonal precipitation forecasts are challenging to anticipate, but Alberta typically sees an increase in storms from mid-May into June with July pegged as “the wettest month” in terms of precipitation.
“Everything that falls out of the sky is going to be good, but for the amount that we're talking to really start to alleviate some of the risk for this spring would be a lot more,” Pederson said.
RESIDENTS OF M. D. OF PEACE 135 FORCED TO EVACUATE
A state of emergency was declared in the Municipal District of Peace 135 because of a fast-moving wildfire, around 3:37 p.m. on Tuesday. Two hours later, residents were told to evacuate.
Loewen said residents in 12 households in Peace were evacuated — approximately 30 individuals.
On Tuesday, there were four crews on the ground — some worked overnight and new crews will come to release them, Loewen said. Additional heavy equipment operators and helicopters were deployed to bucket water onto the fire.
St. Onge said operations will continue into the evening as long as necessary.