Firefighters remind campers of safe fire pit use heading into long weekend

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on May 16, 2025.

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The Victoria Day Weekend is a popular time to kick off the summer camping season in Alberta and local firefighters are reminding campers to keep their fire safe while enjoying the outdoors.

Over weekend firefighters are reminding campers to follow guidelines that include only burning clean, dry wood inside a pit and make sure to always extinguish the campfire fully before leaving it.

Outdoor cookers and barbecues should be operated away from buildings and fences. All smoking materials should be disposed of in study, non-combustible containers.

Currently both Cypress County and the Couth of Forty Mile are under a fire advisory that was implemented April 28, according to the province, as well as Lethbridge County.

Fire advisories are implemented regarding all fires, including fireworks, within county boundaries and no new fire permits will be issued.

During a fire advisory a person can be charged who willfully sets an open fire or any fire not allowed under the order.

This does not include the city limits of Medicine Hat and Lethbridge. There is no current fire ban in Medicine Hat.

Additionally there is currently a park fire ban implemented at the Kennedy Coulee Ecological Reserve as there is a chance for an extreme fire hazard.