Lac La Biche County municipal fire crews have averaged two call-outs a day for wild land and structure fires in the last two weeks.
The 30 recent grass fire calls are in addition to more than 40 other calls calls for emergency assistance through the month.
It has been a busy start to the municipal fire season, says Lac La Biche County Regional Fire Chief and Manager of Protective Services John Kokotilo.
"We had a total of 72 response files for the month of April — not including today," he said on Sunday afternoon during a weekend that saw crews at each of the municipality's five fire halls called for service. Wild land fires over the weekend were reported in the Goodfish Lake area, rural Plamondon, Kikino and Imperial Mills areas.
A fire on Saturday afternoon scorched several acres of rural residential property on the Old Mission Road near Ulliac Beach. That blaze also destroyed an out-building near a home. Fire crews from Plamondon and Lac La Biche spent much of the afternoon putting out hot-spots and protecting nearby homes. A similar scenario played out in the Kikino area at the same time, with Kokotilo reporting more land and a structure scorched by flames moving quickly through very dry grass and brush.
More heat to come
With warmer temperatures continuing into the next week, the fire chief is urging the public to be fire conscious with everything they do.
Lac La Biche County offers a Fire Smart program to residents, with no-charge property visits and consultations,along with subsidized prices on exterior fire suppression sprinkler systems for buildings.
Kokotilo says residents should do what they can to remove and fuel sources around their homes, whether they live in rural areas or urban neighbourhoods. Dried grass, leaves and yard waste can easily become fuel for a moving fire, he says.
"The message to the public is to be extremely careful," he said.
Fire Advisory in effect
Although the municipality's own website shows the current Fire Level as "Low", that status is expected to change in the coming days. Provincially, Alberta Wildfire has issued a Fire Advisory for the Lac La Biche Forest Protection Area that stretches from Cold Lake to Athabasca and north to Janvier. Listing the region's Fire Hazard as "High," Alberta Wildfire information officer Colby Lachance says the local landscape is dangerously dry.
"The wildfire danger in the Lac La Biche Forest Area remains HIGH. Dry grass will ignite quickly. Any spark, hot exhaust or friction can start a wildfire," she said.
The Wildfire Advisory means that no new fire permits will be issued and residents are urged to use heightened awareness around any open flame or heat source.
