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St. Albert lifts fire ban

Improving weather conditions have prompted St. Albert to lift its fire ban, however burning is still strictly controlled in Sturgeon County for the time being. St.

Improving weather conditions have prompted St. Albert to lift its fire ban, however burning is still strictly controlled in Sturgeon County for the time being.

St. Albert fire Chief Ray Richards said the city monitored the situation closely while the ban was in place, but things have improved enough to lift the restriction. The move follows the provincial government, which lifted an Alberta-wide fire ban.

"The forecast is for continued rain and overcast conditions so the moisture is getting back on the surface," Richards said.

Compared to when the ban was put in place, the weather is now much better. "There was a stretch there where we had all that wind that just dried everything out."

The city did not deal with any major issues while the ban was in place and people generally respected it, he added.

"We had really good compliance."

Sturgeon County ban remains

Having spent the better part of the last several weeks battling fires, the Sturgeon County fire department is keeping its ban in place.

"Things dried out quite quickly again yesterday, we are just not quite prepared, we don't think we have had enough moisture yet," said fire Chief Pat Mahoney.

The fire ban voids any existing fire permits and the county will not be issuing any new ones.

Mahoney said the county put out the last of three major fires just yesterday and still believes there is a significant risk for additional fires without a ban in place.

Provincial ban lifted

The province has lifted its fire ban, but burning is still not allowed in 35 provincial campground and recreation areas in northern Alberta.

The provincial parks include Cross Lake Chain Lakes, Poacher's Landing and Lawrence Lake recreational areas near Athabasca, and Thunder Lake Provincial Park near Barrhead.

A full list of the parks affected can be found at www.albertaparks.ca/firebans.

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