Alberta announces more firefighters, fire bans on Alberta provincial land
Posted Apr 14, 2020 1:10 pm.
EDMONTON – Alberta is taking steps to try to minimize the risk of wildfires during the COVID-19 crisis.
Agriculture Minister Devin Dreeshen says the province is hiring an additional 200 firefighters, bringing in a fire ban on provincial land and restricting off-highway vehicles.
The province says nearly 4,050 square kilometres burned in Alberta last year and 71 per cent of fires were caused by humans.
Here's more on the move to temporarily ban OHVs in Alberta as they province aims to mitigate risks during fire season. #yeg #yyc #ableg pic.twitter.com/0DydB8TE9z
— Courtney Theriault (@cspotweet) April 14, 2020
Dreeshen says the fire ban will apply to provincial parks and protected areas, which account for about 60 per cent of the province, but won’t apply to farmland or First Nations land.
He said $20 million is to be allocated to the FireSmart program in which communities take action such as clearing or thinning trees to reduce the risk of wildfires.
Alberta is also doubling fines for violators of fire bans and restrictions on off-highway vehicles.
