At least six counties in central Alberta are under fire advisories and fire restrictions as the spring melt gives way to dry conditions and greater fire risk.
Leduc County, Westlock County and Lac Ste. Anne County are all under a fire advisory, while Barrhead County, Sturgeon County and Parkland County have issued fire restrictions. Depending on the county rules, this means some fire-related activities may be prohibited.
Sturgeon County Fire Chief Chad Moore said as of Friday, the county has recorded seven grass fires this year, and all were caused by some sort of human action.
“One person was cutting their grass, for example, and caught a rock. We believe that created sparks to start the grass fire,” Moore said, adding that people should be cautious amid the dry conditions.
Wind may fan flames
Weather forecasters are also predicting windy conditions this weekend, which increases the risk.
Environment Canada forecasts wind gusts as high as 60 km/h on Sunday, with mostly sunny and warm conditions throughout the weekend before cooling off on Monday.
Derrick Forsythe, a wildfire information officer with Alberta Wildfire, said there have been 98 active wildfires since the start of the year, a number lower than the same time last year and in 2024 and 2023.
He said that while it’s happening later in the season than the past few years, things are starting to warm up, and the snow has mostly melted, uncovering a good amount of fuel for wildfires.
“All that dead and dried grass from last fall is now being exposed for the first time in a long time,” Forsythe said. “It’s really easy to light, and it can carry wildfires quickly.”
Forsythe said it does increase the risk, but the dry conditions are normal for after the spring melt, before the “green up.” That’s when last year’s crop of grasses is replaced by fresh green grass.
Until that happens, Forsythe said, people who might be anxious to get outdoors should be cautious, especially if they’re lighting fires outside of controlled firepits, or off-roading in dry grassy areas.
Moore said people working outdoors should also be careful, as fires often start due to hot works like welding and grinding.
“Take extra time, have an emergency plan and a water resource nearby if you are doing any of those activities,” Moore said. He also encourages people to consult FireSmart resources for more information on fire safety.
Since the fire season started on March 1, Alberta Wildfire has been signing contracts for aircraft, deploying air tankers across the provinces, and running firefighters through training at the Hinton facility, Forsythe said.
Monday controlled burn in Edmonton
Edmonton and most of north and central Alberta got a large amount of snow over a long and cold winter, which Forsythe said is a good indicator for the wildfire season.
But when it comes to a forecast for the overall season, he said predictions beyond a 72-hour window are often inaccurate.
The City of Edmonton, meanwhile, plans a controlled burn at Jan Reimer Park on Monday, weather permitting. The burn should consume around 19 hectares.
The city conducted burns in the river valley last year and in the Horse Hills neighbourhood in 2024.
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