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

The Forest and Prairie Protection Act prohibits the lighting of an outdoor fire, excluding an attended outdoor campfire which has been set for cooking or warming purposes, between March 1 and October 31 each year, on land in a permit area unless the person is a holder of a subsisting fire permit.

The Forest and Prairie Protection Act states that no person shall:

a)  light an outdoor fire without first taking sufficient precautions to ensure that the fire can be kept under control at all times, or

b)  light an outdoor fire when weather conditions are conducive to a fire readily escaping out of control, or

c)  fail to take reasonable steps to control a fire to prevent it from spreading unto land other than his own, or

d)  deposit, discard or leave any burning matter or substance in a place where it might ignite other matter and result in a fire.

Beginning on March 1, fire permits can be obtained:

• online from the Lacombe County website (https://www.lacombecounty.com/en/living-here/fire-permits.aspx)
• in person at the Lacombe County Office
• by calling 403-782-8959

In Lacombe County, fire permits are required during the fire season, which starts March 1 and ends October 31 each year, but can be extended if the risk or danger of wildfire exists.

Before lighting any fire, a permit holder must take precautions to ensure the fire is controlled at all times. The following rules apply to all permits issued in Lacombe County:

• A fire permit is valid only for the period it is issued for.
• Upon issuing a permit, the County may specify any special fire control condition that, at their discretion, is important to the safety of the county residents.
• The fire must be set at the time and place indicated on the permit.
• The number of fires set at one time and the minimum equipment needed may be specified on the permit.
• Anyone who sets a fire under the authority of a permit must:
  • Have a permit at the fire site.
  • Produce and show the permit to a County employee on request
  • Keep the fire under control, and
  • Extinguish the fire before expiration, upon permit cancellation, or obtain a renewal.

Burnable debris includes:

• Brush and fallen trees
• Used power and telephone poles that do not contain preservatives
• Wood or wood products not containing preservatives
• Solid waste from tree harvesting
• Straw, stubble, grass, weeds, leaves, and tree prunings
• Solid waste from post and pole operations that does not contain wood preservatives

Prohibited debris includes:

• Animal manure
• Pathological waste (waste from human health centres)
• Wood or wood products containing wood preservatives
• Waste materials from construction sites
• Rubber, including tires
• Plastic, including baler twine
• Oil
• Containers that held pesticides or any other chemicals
• Plastic or rubber-coated materials, including copper wire.

Before considering burning, Lacombe County encourages residents to explore recycling options for plastics, metals, paper, and other recyclable materials. For more information on recycling services, contact the Recycle Info Line at 1-800-463-8320 or visit the Lacombe Regional Waste Services Commission website at www.lrwsc.ca.