As dry conditions persist in the region Cochrane Fire Services has issued a fire advisory effective today. Over the last few weeks, temperatures have been unusually warm causing the region to be incredibly dry.
As dry conditions persist in the region Cochrane Fire Services has issued a fire advisory effective today.
Over the last few weeks, temperatures have been unusually warm causing the region to be incredibly dry.
Rocky View County has already moved in this direction - and is considering a fire ban - along with other counties in the east of Alberta.
Bearspaw fought a grass fire this week and fire crews are still battling flames that began last weekend in Kananaskis.
David Humphrey, Cochrane's fire chief, explained the details of how the lack of moisture on the ground could pose a fire threat.
Humphrey explained over the last two weeks there hasn't been much frost at night and plenty of warm sunshine and light breezes all day.
“If you think about all of the dry grass that's just laying on top of the ground they had no frost on them last night, there's no precipitation on them today and winds have been light and warm out of the west all day so that little tiny fine grass fuel is dried out. So, on a day like today, without looking at the numbers, I would assume that the Fine Fuel Moisture Code would be quite high, ” Humphrey said.
Humphrey said it takes quite a bit of precipitation to take the fine fuel moisture down to where it's a safe number again.
“That fine fuel moisture is the stuff that burns really fast and really flashy. ”
“We will keep watching the weather patterns and the long range forecast from Environment Canada, ” he said. “I guess all we could ask people to do right now is if they're going to have a campfire in their backyards in their approved fire pits that they're careful. ”
“A Fire Advisory is a reminder to the public to be careful when having recreational fires in approved fire pits residentially, or in approved fire pits located throughout a number of town facilities.
The public is always advised to practise fire safety, ensuring a fire is always supervised and completely extinguished with water when the recreational activity is completed. ”
