Fire rules ease for Pass, bans remain in Elk Valley

Fire restrictions have eased within the Crowsnest Pass urban service area, but residents travelling into neighbouring jurisdictions could still face campfire and off-road vehicle bans.

The Municipality of Crowsnest Pass downgraded its fire restriction to a fire advisory at 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 14 after recent rain improved local conditions.

Open fires with a permit are allowed under the advisory. Residents using screened fire pits are asked to soak the surrounding ground before and after use, keep water and a shovel nearby and never leave a fire unattended.

The advisory applies only within the municipality’s urban service area.

Areas including Chinook Lake and the Atlas, Knowles and Sartoris staging grounds fall under the Calgary Forest Area and may be subject to different rules. Residents are advised to confirm the jurisdiction and status through the Alberta Fire Bans map before lighting a fire.

Municipal officials said the risk has eased but conditions can change quickly, meaning a restriction or ban could be reinstated if the area dries out.

Stricter rules remain in place east of the Pass.

The Town and Municipal District of Pincher Creek, Village of Cowley and Piikani Nation were listed under a fire restriction as of Monday.

Permitted fire pits and propane appliances remain allowed, but fireworks and fires without a permit are prohibited. Debris burning requires authorization and is subject to local conditions, according to Pincher Creek Emergency Services.

Across the B.C. border, campfires remain prohibited throughout the Southeast Fire Centre.

The Category 1 campfire prohibition came into effect July 23 and is scheduled to remain until Oct. 31 unless it is rescinded earlier. It covers areas outside municipal boundaries, along with provincial parks, recreation sites and trails, ecological reserves and other designated lands within municipalities.

A Category 1 campfire is no larger than half a metre high and half a metre wide.

Fireworks, exploding targets, burn barrels, sky lanterns and most other wood-burning devices are also prohibited. Category 2 fires have been prohibited since July 10 and Category 3 fires since May 21.

CSA- or ULC-rated outdoor stoves burning charcoal briquettes, liquid fuel or gas may still be used if the flame is shorter than 15 centimetres, according to the BC Wildfire Service.

Fernie and Sparwood also implemented municipal campfire prohibitions. Sparwood’s ban applies to Category 1, 2 and 3 fires throughout the district, while still allowing qualifying outdoor stoves. The district can issue municipal tickets of up to $250 for violations and recover firefighting costs when a prohibited fire contributes to a wildfire. Sparwood’s prohibition remains in effect until further notice.

Recreational off-road vehicle use is also temporarily prohibited on Crown land throughout the Southeast Fire Centre.

The prohibition, introduced Aug. 10, applies to all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes and side-by-side vehicles. On-highway vehicles must remain on defined road surfaces.

The rule does not apply to private property, national parks, emergency responders or vehicles being used for agricultural, commercial or industrial work.

The province said the measure was introduced because off-road vehicles can cause accidental ignitions and because people in remote areas may be difficult to evacuate if a wildfire begins.

Violators can receive a ticket of up to $1,150 and may be required to pay firefighting costs if their actions cause or contribute to a wildfire. The provincial prohibition will remain until conditions improve or the order is rescinded.

Wildfires in Alberta can be reported by calling 310-FIRE. In British Columbia, wildfires can be reported by calling *5555 from a cellphone or 1-800-663-5555. Off-road vehicle violations in B.C. can be reported to the RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277.