National Emergency Preparedness Week is underway and it continues until Saturday.
As folks out in the west country work on spring cleaning in their yards, Vince DeBoer – Forest Officer with the Rocky Mountain Forest Area – notes it is important to FireSmart your property. DeBoer says “look at pruning your trees, making sure that vegetation isn’t right up against your house or other outbuildings on your property. Maybe cutting back grass as well, making sure that you don’t let vegetation overgrow in certain areas. The spacing of that vegetation is important as well.”
Sundre RCMP reported that a portion of Highway 587 – between Range Roads 43 and 45 – was closed on Saturday, May 2nd while emergency crews contained a grass fire and put out hot spots. It was reopened a couple of hours later.
As of yesterday, the wildfire danger in the Rocky Mountain Forest Area was listed as very high and a fire advisory was in effect. Existing permits are valid under the fire advisory, however extension requests may not be granted. Safe campfires are allowed.
Members of the public can report wildfires by calling 310-FIRE and a map of Alberta Fire Bans can be found here.
