Seasonal fire ban in Cypress County again
By COLLIN GALLANT on March 10, 2021.
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant Cypress County will again restrict burn permits this season, it announced Tuesday, reminding farm or ranch operators to get permit requests in by the end of the month. The ban will be in effect from April 1 to Oct. 31. March 31 will be the last day for producers to burn and officials say permits need to be processed before the go-ahead is given. A recent emergency response to county council noted a steep decline in wildfires requiring fire crew response in 2020. That season saw more precipitation following several years of drought or near drought conditions, but also a general fire restriction for most of the summer aimed at reducing dangerous events during the pandemic. Steeper provincial measures also led to a reduction, according to Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. About 705 fires last year burned 3,300 acres after a record season in 2019. The five-year average was 1,300 fires. Wildfire season begins March 1 each year. 11-10
