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Fire crews respond to six wildfires over the weekend

(Fort McMurray, AB – May 10, 2021) — Regional Emergency Services and Alberta Forestry and Agriculture responded to six wildfires in the RMWB region over the weekend.

Residents are reminded to use caution and keep wildlife safety top of mind

Regional Fire Chief Jody Butz says ‘it’s concerning that four of the wildfires were determined to be human-caused.’ Butz adds ‘with the dry, windy conditions this spring, we’re experiencing an increased risk of wildfire activity, and we’re certainly seeing that in the number of wildfire incidents we’ve responded to already this season. We need residents to be cautious this season and keep wildfire safety top of mind. Human-caused wildfires are preventable and we need the help of all community members to make that happen.’

Tips for reducing wildfire risk

Always use fire safely and responsibly
Always extinguish your campfire by soaking it, stirring it and soaking it again
When driving off-highway vehicles (OHVs), stop and check the vehicle regularly for built-up debris on or around the exhaust
Never throw cigarette butts onto the ground
Report any smoke you see in forested areas to 310-FIRE
Follow all fire advisories and/or bans that come into effect
Take FireSmart action at home by moving combustible items away from your home and following proper landscaping practices.

Municipal Wildfire prevention efforts

As a Municipality — Since 2016, the Municipality has treated approximately 341 hectares of municipal land with FireSmart prescriptions. This is a form of vegetation management that works to reduce the fuel load in densely forested areas near neighbourhoods and communities.

Burn Abatement — Each spring, trained staff from Regional Emergency Services conduct burn abatement efforts that remove dead and dry surface fuels that accumulate over the winter months and pose an increased risk of wildfire in the region.

Residents are encouraged to stay informed on the status of all wildfires in the region by downloading the Alberta Wildfire App. This a newly released app which has now replaced the previous wildfire status app.

The Fort McMurray Forest Area (FMFA) averages 25 human-caused wildfires per year, costing the Province of Alberta nearly 19 million per year.