Although the partial fire ban previously issued by Mountain View County has since been lifted, a fire advisory remained in place throughout the Rocky Forest Area as of last week.
“No permits are being issued at this time,” said Kristofer Heemeryck, wildfire prevention officer with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, on Wednesday, May 23.
“We’re definitely moving into some warmer, drier weather.”
Later the same day, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry updated the wildfire danger in the Rocky Forest Area to "very high" from "moderate."
Sundre fire Chief Marty Butts said the situation was more or less back to normal in the area, but that in the absence of substantial precipitation, conditions in 20-plus degree weather are quickly drying up daily.
“For now, things are pretty good,” Butts said last week.
But the fire chief said he would not be particularly surprised if another ban or partial restriction was imposed by the county again.
The chief said members of the Sundre Fire Department had recently responded to a scene where a campfire was left unattended.
“Some people just don’t get it,” he said.
“The fire was in a pit but they just walked away from it.”
The fire chief urges everyone who intends to make a campfire to ensure the blaze is completely extinguished before leaving.
“You light it, you put it out. Don’t walk away from it — even if it’s contained in a pit.”
Some blowing wind is all that’s required to potentially flare up an inadequately snuffed out fire and send sparks flying into nearby trees, potentially igniting a wildfire, he said.
“That’s often how forest fires start.”
He said people cannot allow themselves to become complacent by walking away from a campfire assuming that it will simply go out on its own. While that usually is the case, there is always the possibility of the one-off that gets away, he said.
“It’s disappointing with everything that’s happened in B.C., Fort Mac, Slave Lake and Waterton to still have this kind of irresponsible behaviour.”
Alberta Agriculture and Forestry officials urge people to “stir it, soak it, and stir it again.”
The provincial government department’s website also states that, “A fire is not out until there is absolutely no heat coming from the ashes.”
If the pit remains hot or warm to the touch, the fire could potentially still be active, said Butts.
“If you can’t put your hand on it, it ain’t out,” he said.
Visit www.albertafirebans.ca for updates on bans and advisories throughout the province.
