BARRHEAD - Late in the afternoon on May 3, Barrhead Regional Fires Services (BRFS) upgraded the fire ban to include all off-highway vehicle use for recreational purposes on all public land in the County of Barrhead.
The ban does not include the use of OHVs on private land or by individuals exercising a right under Section 12 of the Natural Resources Transfer Agreement or when travelling to a location to exercise such a right.
The OHV ban is in addition to all the other restrictions already in place, including prohibiting fireworks and exploding targets and banning all campfires or fires in approved outdoor fireplaces, pits and chimeneas. The fire ban order also suspends all burn permits, including burn barrels and incinerators.
BRFS fire chief Gary Hove, in a May 2 interview with the Barrhead Leader, said he was also contemplating issuing an OHV ban, but noted the problem was enforcement.
However, discussion on whether the municipality should institute the ban began, at least at the councillor level, the day before at the County of Barrhead May 2 council meeting.
Reeve Doug Drozd asked Barrhead RCMP Detachment commander Sgt. Bob Dodds, who was at council to give his regular quarterly report if the municipality should follow Lac Ste. Anne County's lead and issue a complete OHV restriction within its borders. The province also instituted an OHV ban for the Forest Protection Area.
"Absolutely, I do," Dodds said. "Anytime you have an ATV going through tall grass or forest in these conditions, there is a risk of sparks, or that somebody will do something stupid, like carelessly discarding a cigarette."
He also recounted an incident that is still under investigation of someone shooting Roman candles out of a moving vehicle.
"We are not sure if they were intentionally trying to start a fire or just being moronic and shooting them off for fun," Dodds said.
Adding resources
Due to the extreme fire risk, BRFS is also looking to expand its emergency contact list and is asking any individuals and businesses that have equipment that would be helpful in battling wildfires to contact them.
Hove made the request via the fire department’s Facebook page (the Official Friends and Family of Barrhead Fire Services) that the department is looking for individuals with dozers and rubber and track excavators with the ability to transport, as well as water haulers, honey wagons, and farming discs with tractors.
"This request is for preparing for an emergency. We live in a farming community, and many people have equipment that could be useful when fighting and trying to contain a fire," he said. "Large fires are usually controlled with farming equipment in coordination with the fire department. Farmers do more than feed us. There are times they protect the communities they live in."
If you have equipment that could be useful, contact the BRFS at the fire hall at 780-674-2087 or message them through Facebook.
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
