Alberta imposes broad wildfire ban

Alberta has imposed a fire ban for forested lands over a swath of the province, almost one year after a wildfire levelled a large part of Slave Lake, Alberta.

The Slave Lake wildfire on May 14, 2011, still currently under investigation as an arson case, destroyed 4,700 hectares and about 400 structures and forced the evacuation of 7,000 residents.

Dry conditions and high to extreme wildfire hazards in 2012 prompted the current move to apply the ban to forested land from Warton Lakes National Park to north of Manning and east to north of Fort McMurray, notes a statement from Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resources. The prohibition does not apply to lands within cities, towns or villages or federal lands where there are no fire control agreements.

Since the beginning of April 2012, firefighters with the provincial ministry have responded to more than 270 wildfires. The ban prohibits lighting outdoor fires and fireworks and using portable campfires, as well as extinguishing all outdoor fires currently burning and suspending all fire permits issued under the Forest and Prairie Protection Act. 

“Unfortunately, most of the wildfires we are fighting right now appear to be human-caused and, therefore, were 100% preventable,” says Diana McQueen, environment and sustainable resource development minister.

The Slave Lake fire in 2011 was the second largest insured loss in Canadian history. The Insurance Bureau of Canada estimates payout by insurance companies to be more than $700 million. Combine that with funding from the Alberta government and rotary, Red Cross and private donations, and the estimated overall cost will be more than $1 billion.

The province says the current fire hazard will be monitored daily, with the ban removed or adjusted once conditions allow. Violators can face a fine of as much as $5,000 and be held accountable for the costs associated with fight a resulting fire.