Lac La Biche – Recent rainfall and wet conditions have come as a relief and have greatly decreased the risk of wildfires, says John Kokotilo, the regional fire chief for Lac La Biche County.
According to Kokotilo, the fire hazard is now low and the fire ban that had been in place for a few weeks in Lac La Biche County has been lifted.
“That was a million-dollar rain, so to speak . . . it was fantastic,” he said on June 17, speaking about rain that blanketed much of the Lakeland area over the weekend.
Kokotilo explained that past fire permits have been reinstated, and any permits that are ongoing will be issued at the discretion of the municipal bylaw officer.
Winefred Lake
Firefighters from Lac La Biche County Fire Rescue Services worked alongside various other fire departments in Alberta to battle a wildfire that broke out in the area of Southern Winefred Lake and Grist Lake on June 4 and forced a mandatory evacuation order for the area.
According to Kokotilo, while the fire in the Winefred Lake area is still classified as out of control, firefighting crews are getting a handle on it. The areas that were evacuated, he added, are not in harm’s way at this time.
Although the Lac La Biche region did receive a significant amount rain since last week, Kokotilo said more rain is needed.
“Even these little spurts that we’re getting right now are very welcome,” he said.
Even though the landscape is wet and the fire ban has been lifted, Kokotilo urges people to take precautions and play it safe while outdoors.
“We still have to be very, very careful because fire season is far from over yet,” Kokotilo said.
The Lac La Biche area has been experiencing high winds, and these winds can increase the risk of fires once hotter, drier weather returns. When this occurs, he explained, these winds quickly dry the landscape, any moisture on the ground rapidly disappears, and the situation can change quickly.
For now, however, the outlook remains positive.
“It looks like we’re getting showers in the evenings moving forward here just about every second evening, which is going to be great,” Kokotilo said. “Hopefully we can get into the complete greening phase with the significant moisture so that we can enjoy the rest of the summer without being fearful.”
