Fire Permit season begins March 1, 2026: Don’t forget yours!

Lacombe County is reminding all ratepayers, residents, and businesses of the upcoming fire permit season beginning March 1, 2026. To ensure community safety and environmental protection, the County requires fire permits for all controlled burns. Unauthorized burning can lead to significant fines and fire department response charges.

NEW for 2026: To give the public time to adjust to changing fire threat levels, Lacombe County will now provide 24 hours’ notice before a fire advisory, fire restriction, or fire ban is put in place or lifted. This will be clearly communicated on our website, www.lacombecounty.com, as well as on our County-run social media platforms.

“If Fire Services has to respond, there will be associated costs - whether the fire was permitted, accidental, or the result of negligence or permit non-compliance. The best way to avoid those charges is simple: follow the permit conditions and never leave your fire unattended,” said Dave Bain, Manager of Fire and Emergency Services for Lacombe County. “With conditions shifting quickly throughout the spring, it’s critical that residents stay alert, follow their permit conditions, and use extra caution. A safe burn protects your property, your neighbours, and our firefighters.”

Insurance Reminder: Residents are strongly encouraged to review their insurance policies to confirm that firefighting costs are covered, as fire response charges will be levied for all responses.

Obtaining a Fire Permit

Fire permits are free, quick, and easy to obtain online at any time via the Lacombe County website at www.lacombecounty.com, offering 24/7 accessibility. They are also available in person at the Lacombe County Office during regular business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), or by contacting the Community Services Department at 403-782-8959 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Fire permits provide an important layer of safety for residents and their neighbours by outlining the requirements to ensure that all burns are conducted safely and responsibly.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

If you are found in contravention of Lacombe County’s Fire Protection & Emergency Response Bylaw, enforcement action will also be taken.

Penalties start at a minimum $250 fine for a first offence, in addition to being responsible for the full cost of any fire department response.

Additional charges under the Forest and Prairie Protection Act may also apply.

Safety First: Check Winter Burn Piles

Given this year’s unusually dry winter, residents are urged to carefully check any winter burn piles. These can smoulder unseen for weeks and unexpectedly reignite, posing a significant fire risk.

“It's critical to ensure that all controlled burns are fully extinguished and to adhere to safe burning practices,” said Bain. “Please be proactive and check your winter burns to ensure there is no chance of them flaring up later.”

If you burned at any time this past fall or winter, take time to revisit your burn site and ensure the fire is fully out. For more information, visit https://www.alberta.ca/safe-burning.

Fire Response Charges

Pursuant to the County’s Fire Protection & Emergency Response Bylaw and the County’s Rates and Fees Bylaw, fees will be levied for Fire Department Responses, as follows:

• Engine (Pumper Truck): $740 per hour
• Tender (Water Tanker): $740 per hour
• Brush Truck: $740 per hour
• Rescue Unit: $740 per hour
• Command Vehicle (Incident Command Truck): $215 per hour

(Rates effective April 1, 2025)

A maximum fee (cap) of $10,000 shall be levied on responses to properties classified as residential or farmland. The cap does not apply to:

1. Responses involving properties of non-County residents, ratepayers, businesses, etc.
2. Responses:
   1. to a fire that was ignited during a fire ban,
   2. to a fire that was ignited without the required fire permit being obtained, and
   3. to a fire that was ignited with the required fire permit, but a condition of the permit was not complied with.