Above average temperatures, creating tinder dry conditions have led to a fire ban for both Cardston County and the County of Warner.
Cardston County issued the new fire ban last Wednesday, Feb. 1 and Warner’s county council confirmed its new fire ban earlier this week at its Tuesday council meeting. This is the second fire ban for the region in the first six weeks of 2012.
“The fuel load is highest in Magrath,” said Fire Chief Danny Melvin with Cardston County Emergency Services.
He met with his counterparts from Glenwood/Hill Spring and Magrath before the new fire ban was issued.
The first fire ban of the new year was put in place Jan. 4 and lifted Jan. 16 after some moisture arrived in the region.
“There was less of a fuel load available.”
Warmer temperatures and strong winds have made quick work of eliminating the moisture and now the region is once again under the threat of wild fires.
“There’s just not enough moisture,” said Melvin.
The ban covers every community within the Cardston County. The fire chief also noted the fine for the first offense under the fire ban is $200.
Magrath Fire Chief Tim Lauscher said typically if a fire ban is warranted in the county it will include the town. With prevailing winds coming from the west into Magrath the potential for a wild fire to start in the county and threatened the town increases with wind speeds.
“It’s better to be safe then sorry.”
While the fuel load is high and conditions are dry, Lauscher said it’s actually the wind that is creating the most cause for concern. Some areas may still have some snow cover but overall, county-wide the conditions are dry.
While there is some snow left in the west side of the county, Lauscher said grasslands up on the ridge are tinder dry to the west of Magrath.
“Once a fire starts it will spread so fast in winter.”
While colder temperatures might slow the start of a fire, once it catch onto the dry fuel it doesn’t matter how cold it is, the fire will burn.
“In this wind it doesn’t matter. It’s the wind that’s got us being cautious.”
He said even when the ban is lifted fire permits are required for all open burning.
In the County of Warner, Community Peace Officer Scott Simpson said open burning in the county also requires a permit.
Information on the fire ban and burn permits can be found on the county’s website at www.countyofwarner5.ab.ca.
Simpson said there is simply no snow cover left and the combination of wind and stubble fields is a recipe for another wild fire.
The county has already dealt with a major wild fire in November which resulted in flames as high as 30 feet, a mile wide and moving at 60km/h.
“It jumped a 30 foot road.”
He said the biggest problem with open fires in the county is residents start fires and then leave them unattended.
With a lack of moisture and windy conditions prevalent this winter, the potential for another wild fire is always there.
In November Simpson said residents impacted by the wild fire lost corrals and fence posts but the loss could have been much greater.
The fire started near Del Bonita and traveled all the way to within sight of Warner.