BARRHEAD - The Barrhead Regional Fire Services (BRFS) upgraded its fire control order from a fire restriction to a fire ban.
The ban continues the restriction of campfires on backcountry or public lands and fires from large burn pits, as well as the use of fireworks and exploding targets, adding burn barrels, incinerators and tiki torches.
As part of the original fire control order issued on April 14 and is still in place, the fire department suspended all existing fire permits and stopped issuing any new permits until the control order and ban are lifted.
Campfires in approved fire pits and propane, gas, or wood pellet barbecues and appliances are still permitted.
The ban took effect at 9 a.m. on April 30.
"Looking at the weather coming up, we are supposed to get some warm days, along with some wind," BRFS chief Gary Hove said, adding that along with information from the province, putting the fire danger in the area as "extreme" made the move prudent.
Hove suggested that county residents who had burned earlier in the year, before the ban and fire control order, "dig it up the area of the burn a little bit" to look for any potential signs of the previous fire, including smoke, glowing embers or "heat in the ground" and if there is, wet it down to ensure that the fire does not flare up again.
"It is a good idea to do the same thing with burn barrels," he said.
Hove added that off-highway vehicle enthusiasts are extra vigilant during their excursions.
"There are a lot of muskeg areas, and what can happen if a quad goes through a big mud hole or something like that? Something can get caught on the exhaust system, then dries out, begins to burn and then falls out later on the trail, creating a wildfire," he said.
The ban followed a pair of grass/wildfires on the evening of April 29. The first was at a Lac La Nonne residence at about 7:30 p.m.
"It was a small fire caused by an electrical cord going through a small patch of the bush," Hove said. "The people who owned the property weren't home, and when our members got there, the person who called it in controlled the fire with a garden hose, and we were able to extinguish it quickly."
However, he said, the result might not have been as favourable if it had not been for the good Samaritan, who luckily spotted the fire early on and had the presence of mind not only to report it but actioned the fire.
The other fire, about three acres in size, was bout 30 kilometres out of Barrhead on Range Road 42 at about 11 p.m.
Hove said the fire was caused by the remnants of an old burn being reignited by the wind.
Hove noted that 22 firefighters actioned the second fire.
"We had a good, quick turnout because it was training night, and there were still many members at the fire hall," he said, adding that BRFS members were quickly able to establish a perimeter and "knock it down."
Hove added that it was nighttime, which made it more challenging to take action on the fire.
"Even though we light up the area as much as we can with our vehicles and firefighters have headlamps to put on their helmets, visibility is an issue, so everything on the treeline is more hazardous because you can't see all the hazards," he said. "Just walking around is more difficult because of small, scrub trees and the rough and hilly terrain."
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
