Fire bans issued in Cypress region

By Mo Cranker on August 11, 2018.

Medicine Hat News

Anyone visiting Cypress Hill Interprovincial Park this weekend is being asked to not start any sort of fire.

As of 3 p.m. Friday there is a fire ban on the Alberta side of the park and a restriction on the Saskatchewan side.

Wood and charcoal briquette campfires are prohibited — including fires in designated fire facilities.

Gas stoves and barbecues are permitted for cooking only.

Propane fire pits are permitted but must be set up within already established fire pits.

Cypress County

Cypress County fire chief Kelly Meyer declared a fire ban as of 3 p.m. Friday.

The time was specifically slotted so workers could get their equipment out of the fields and manage their fuel loads before the ban took effect.

“Please be cautious,” said Meyer. “It’s extremely dry out there. Always have fire protection with you when your working outside.

“All recreational fires are banned.”

People can still use household items such as propane barbecues and smokers.

Any person who sets an open fire, or any blaze not permitted under this order, may be charged under the Forest and Prairie Protection Act and Cypress County Bylaw 2008/14. If the person is the owner or occupant of the land on which the fire is set, those costs may be recovered by placing the costs on the tax roll and recovering them in the same manner as taxes.

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