No coal BBQs, fireworks: Edmonton under fire ban

Edmonton is under a fire ban, as grass and brush fires continue to burn due to warm temperatures and tinder-dry conditions.

Edmonton Fire Rescue Services (EFRS) is prohibiting open burning, fireworks, backyard fire pits and cooking stoves and BBQs that use fuels like wood and briquettes.

EFRS says the ban is in effect “until further notice.”

“We’re issuing this ban due to the prolonged hot, dry and extremely windy conditions we’ve seen in the city, as much as central Alberta,” acting fire Chief David Lazenby told CityNews. “Although we’ve seen some rain, it has not been enough to improve conditions significantly.”

Lazenby says carelessly discarded smoking materials can also be problematic.

The city says anyone not complying may be subject to fines or charges – including costs for emergency services – if there’s a safety issue.

Sprinklers and hoses in Yellowhead County. (Photo Credit: CityNews)

“We are aware of the dry conditions that we are experiencing in Alberta right now, which is why we have resources strategically places across the province and ready to respond when needed,” said Colby Lachance, wildfire information officer with Alberta Wildfire.

Lachance says there are 10 pieces of heavy equipment, six helicopters and more than 30 firefighters working on this fire. And says more firefighters are expected today.

Heat, high winds and dry conditions continue to fuel wildfires across Alberta, threatening homes and communities in some areas of the province. Most of Alberta was under a fire ban by Tuesday morning.

Out-of-control wildfires west and northwest of Edmonton forced the evacuation of multiple communities.

WATCH: Wildfires continue to grow around Edmonton as province remains dry

Lazenby says wind-driven fires can be incredibly challenging.

“Nature can be a force that is difficult to deal with,” he said. “If you get really strong winds, it makes it very challenging, and you have to be very strategic with how you deploy your resources to try to get ahead of the problems and predict the areas that it may impeach upon, especially where property is involved.”

Officials have expressed concern looking at the short-term forecast.

Edmonton’s fire ban was implemented based in part on the “Fire Weather Index,” which analyzes temperature, humidity, wind, precipitation and vegetation.

RELATED:

• Wildfires continue to grow around Edmonton as province remains dry
• Grass fires west, northwest of Edmonton force evacuation of communities

“The safety of Edmontonians is our number one priority, and we ask for your support,” said Lazenby. “The fire risk in Edmonton is manageable if everyone follows the proper precautions to ensure fire safety and prevention.”

EFRS says the city has seen 185 brush, grass, or wildland fires in 2023 – as of April 30. Six of those fires posed threats to nearby structures, EFRS said.

“What we’re looking at right now is protecting the hamlet of Wildwood, and the lobstick and area. And Yellowhead County has set up sprinkler protection lines, as well as sprinkler protection directly on homes, to try to eliminate any ember drop that may come from the fire if it were to come this way,” explained Albert Bahri, Fire Chief for Yellowhead County.

Sprinklers and hoses in Yellowhead County. (Photo Credit: CityNews)

“The plan, the hope is we never use it. So we’re going to flow some water through to make sure our connections are correct, our pumps work, and we have the proper volume. Once we get to that point we will basically shut it down, and if we need it we will turn it on.”

Bahri says thousands of feet of hoses are connecting sprinklers and being used around the perimeter of Wildwood to protect the community in case the wildfire gets closer.

The hoses/ sprinklers are not being actively used right now, it’s a last resort and set up as a barrier in case the fire makes its way closer to the community. The fire is currently estimated to be 6 km from Wildwood.

“If the fire starts to impinge on the community, those people have been instructed on what to do. They’ve always been given the instruction that we may not be able to get back to get them out. So we left that choice. With a mandatory evacuation, we can evacuate them. But that’s not how we operate. We want to communicate with people, keep checking on people, make sure they know what the hazards are, so they can make the decision on when to leave.

Sprinklers and hoses can be seen of roofs of houses in Yellowhead County. (Photo Credit: CityNews)

About 20 residents in Wildwood chose to stay behind despite the mandatory evacuation order.

“If you choose to stay and things turn bad, we may not be able to get back in here to help, and from that point on you’re on your own,” said Wade Williams, Mayor of Yellowhead County. There’s always concern when residents stay behind.”

Barhi adding, “You don’t want to bring people back and then have to chase them out three or four hours later.”

More information on the fire ban is available here.