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March 1 marked the beginning of wildfire season in Alberta.
With wildfires starting earlier and lasting longer, Alberta鈥檚 wildfire season begins a month earlier than other provinces so are trained and positioned throughout the province sooner.
It is a time to check safe outdoor fire practices and how your home is protected.
According to the department of Agriculture and Forestry, almost all spring wildfires are caused by human activity and are completely preventable.
Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, said: 鈥淢ost wildfires are preventable. More than 70 per cent of Alberta wildfires last year were caused by humans 鈥� and the McMillan wildfire near Slave Lake was started by arson. We will continue to promote prevention, provide adequate funding and improvements to forest management.鈥�
In Jasper, the story for the 2019 wildfire season was rain.
There was one fire ban which lasted for five days and the park fire danger was 'extreme' with the fire crew on standby for 20 days. The helicopter was available all summer but there were only a handful of illegal campfires and no lightning-caused fires.
Help prevent wildfires by keeping campfires in designated pits, disposing of cigarettes in appropriate receptacles and reporting any suspected wildfires.
In Jasper fires are only allowed in proper designated, metal fireboxes with provided firewood. Deadfall and cut branches should not be used for fires and never leave your fire unattended and be sure to put it out before you leave.
Whether started by accident or arson, wildfires can cause major environmental damage. While arson is a criminal offence, any unsafe fire-related behaviours can also lead to hefty fines or charges.
