A fire advisory is now in place for Calgary as above-seasonal temperatures, wind and dry conditions persist in the city. The advisory, released Tuesday afternoon, asks those in the city to take extra caution to prevent fires — particularly around dry grass, fallen leaves and other combustible materials. It comes as the city is enforcing Stage 4 water restrictions as city crews work on the Bearspaw South feeder main. “The higher temperatures, the lower humidity, the potential for increased incidences …(impacts) our ability to respond to multiple incidents at once,” Calgary Fire Department Public Information Officer Alex Kwan said. The city says a fire advisory does not impose fire restrictions, but Calgarians are “encouraged” to consider postponing recreational fires as dry conditions continue. Anyone using open flames or things like fire pits and barbeques is asked to exercise extra caution. The advisory also asks people to avoid burning in windy conditions, keep fires away from dry vegetation and never leave a fire unattended. People must also make sure fires are fully extinguished after use. The advisory also comes after emergency crews in the Municipal District of Willow Creek were called to a bale stack fire over the weekend. The fire, which happened on Saturday, eventually engulfed a few structures. “We’re told it came in as a outside fire, then it got moved to a structure fire,” Kelly Starling, Fire Chief and Director of Emergency Services with the Municipal District of Willow Creek, told CTV News. “High winds and dry vegetation made it difficult.” There were 40 firefighters and 18 fire trucks from nine different stations on scene to help put out the blaze by 10 a.m. on Saturday. Fire restrictions are now in effect for the area. “High temperatures, lack of precipitation in the future, and with the winds that we get with those, usually plus temperatures, the potential of a fire getting away is there,” said Starling. All fire permits are suspended and no new ones will be issued. Anyone looking for more information can visit calgary.ca/firebans and Alberta Fire Bans for current restrictions across the province.
