Alberta is poised to have an extremely busy forest fire season with dry conditions spread throughout the province, including Sturgeon County, which imposed a fire ban Tuesday on all open fires.
Sustainable resources minister Mel Knight briefed the press last week, warning dry forests throughout the province were poised to ignite.
Knight said a dry fall combined with lower than expected precipitation levels throughout the winter have combined to make the forests much drier than usual.
Ground moisture across much of the province is at 80 per cent of normal and some areas are even worse.
"Since last fall we have been aware that 2010 is shaping up to be a very dry year."
The province has budgeted $90 million to prepare for the upcoming fire season, covering the costs of moving equipment into the remote bases where is it housed as well as training firefighters for the upcoming season.
The government is spending about $8 million less on those efforts this year than it has in previous years. Knight said they were being prudent, but emphasized the money would remain available to fight fires when the need arises.
The money for actually fighting fires is not part of the year-to-year budget and comes from the province's sustainability fund. Last year the government spent $130 million in emergency funding to actually combat blazes.
Knight cautioned Albertans to be careful when out enjoying nature and ensure campfires are properly extinguished and all burning is done with a permit.
"Albertans should know that there is a heightened fire risk in 2010," he said. "Enjoy Alberta, but do it in a responsible way."
Sturgeon also dry
Sturgeon County isn't immune to the drought across the province and has put a fire ban in place.
County Fire Chief Bart Clark told councillors Tuesday that moisture levels in the county are even lower than the provincial average at just 49 per cent of expected levels.
"We haven't had a good rain at all. We are in the same situation as everyone else."
He said county crews have already been called out for a fire that had burned slowly in the ground for most of the winter before breaking out briefly a few weeks ago.
He said what little moisture the county is getting is being rapidly offset by strong winds.
"The wind is drying it up pretty darn fast."
Clark was at council Tuesday morning to appoint fire guardians for the upcoming season, but with the ban in place no permits can actually be issued. The ban also includes outdoor campfires and fireworks.
Clark recommends homeowners cut lower branches from trees around their house to reduce the risk of a ground fire spreading into the trees. He said they should also remove dead branches and rake up pine needles and other material that can feed a fire.
He also suggests keeping a 10-metre buffer between trees and homes wherever possible to reduce the risk to a home and is asking farmers or anyone else who might have held a controlled burn over the winter to go back to the site and make sure the fire is completely out.
To test the fire he suggests putting a metal rod in the ground, leaving it for several minutes. If it is still warm, the fire department should be contacted immediately.
A fire last year near Redwater claimed three houses, burned more than eight square kilometres and cost the county nearly $1 million to fight.
