As of mid-week last week, the Olds Fire Department had not yet been called to any grass fires.
However, deputy fire Chief Brian Powell says the department has seen a "significant" increase in applications for burning permits in Mountain View County.
Powell says a process to obtain those permits from the county online is proving very popular -- for residents and the fire department.
"We see these requests electronically, and shortly after the resident submits their application," Powell says. "This system works well when the application is submitted a few days in advance of the planned window of desired burn dates."
Powell says the process gives the fire department an opportunity to, if necessary, contact the permit holder and have a discussion with them about their plans.
"We have provided advice such as suggesting postponing planned burns if higher winds are forecasted," he says.
"The burns that are lit within a few hours or even minutes of the permit application submission typically results in a fire department response," Powell warns. "We simply have not yet had the opportunity to review the permit."
Permit holders who are actually conducting an approved burn should monitor their phones, Powell says.
People driving by may assume the burn is an out-of-control fire and report it to the fire department.
"When a 911 call comes in and the fire department cannot reach the permit holder by phone, we must assume the worst and the burn is no longer in control," Powell says.
That can cause a problem if someone driving by calls in a fire and it turns out to indeed be a well-controlled burn.
"While there is no bill to the permit holder for unrequired responses, there is a cost in lost volunteer time, equipment usage and valuable assets made unavailable for real responses."
Powell says despite a few "road bumps," the online permitting process is working better all the time.
"The number of unrequired responses (is) diminishing year to year," he says. "It is believed this continues to improve as more and more rural residents are having a desire to understand each side of the control burn permitting and emergency 911 obligations."
