Expect to see smoke rising from the west side of the river valley on Monday, but don’t panic.
It will be a result of a prescribed burn at Jan Reimer Park, planned by the City of Edmonton, good weather permitting. A Friday news release said smoke will be visible from mid-morning to late afternoon Monday. Firefighters and equipment will be on-site.
People in the nearby area may be affected by the smoke, but the city said it will be monitoring the burn and working to minimize the impacts. The burn area will include about 19 hectares of the grassland section of the park.
The Terwillegar Park Footbridge and nearby trails will be closed as wildfire crews work the burn.
Prescribed burns are one tactic in the city’s efforts to prevent wildfires this season. City council approved its new fire strategy on Tuesday and had been considering a “holistic” strategy for dealing with wildfires, since wildfire seasons have been starting earlier and extreme fires have become more common due to climate change.
With more than 7,400 hectares of wildland urban interface, the city has said Edmonton’s main wildfire corridor is the river valley, but grasslands along major roadways can also be a risk. In the past six years, the city has dealt with more than 2,000 grassfires.
A Friday news release said burns like this get rid of wildfire fuel and help prevent high-intensity fires. The city also said controlled burns have a positive effect on the environment and bring nutrients into the ecosystem that help with biodiversity.
Prescribed burns are relatively new within the city limits, but the city said they are a proven and safe way to manage high-risk areas. Previously, the city conducted burns in the Northeast River Valley Park last year and in the Horse Hills neighbourhood in 2024.
Previously known as Oleskiw River Valley Park, Jan Reimer Park is a 193-acre park located in the west end, south of the Fort Edmonton Footbridge and adjacent to the Edmonton Country Club.
The city said Monday’s burn will only happen if the weather conditions are right for managing the fire and smoke.
The burn comes as other municipalities, along with the provincial government, are also taking early measures to prepare for wildfires.
Leduc County and Sturgeon County have both placed restrictions on fires, while Alberta Forestry Minister Todd Loewen will be making an announcement on the province’s wildfire readiness on Monday.
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