LAC LA BICHE - Lac La Biche fire department crews responded to what ended up being three false alarms in the span of as many days over the last week.
And as the volunteer crews at fire halls in all corners of the municipality gear up for what is expected to be a busy spring wildfire season, the false alarms are frustrating, despite an overall reduction in fire calls over the last month.
The county' regional fire chief and manager of protective services John Kokotilo says firefighters respond to every call that comes in, and false alarms can stress the system a little, especially with what the veteran firefighter sees coming.
Dealing with safety and health protocols from the COVID-19 pandemic as well as an expected increase in local temperatures, the coming weeks are going to be challenging, says Kokotilo.
"We're happy to see that the call volume has dropped, but things are warming up quickly for this wildfire season," he said.
With steady winds and temperatures forecast to stay well into the double digits, fire officials across the province are preparing for the weeks ahead. Kokotilo urges all residents to maintain proper precautions when dealing with open flames, ATV use and any other potential heat sources that could spark a blaze.
Provincial officials have added $20 million to the province-wide Fire Smart program in advance of the wildfire season. Kokotilo says the local municipality uses funds from that program to offer many no-charge services to property owners, including tree removal and mulching. The county fire department is also selling outdoor sprinkler systems for homes and buildings. Thanks to the Fire Smart funding, the systems are offered at a subsidized rate.
More information on the municipality's Fire Smart program and the regional fire department can be found at the Lac La Biche County website and HERE.