By rdnewsNOW staff

effective today

Restricted fire order in effect for Red Deer County

May 14, 2021 | 2:00 PM

As of 9:30 a.m. today (Friday), a restricted fire order is in effect for all of Red Deer County.

Officials say a fast spring thaw has created dry conditions, which can lead to a fire growing out of control.

Red Deer County requires that:

– All outdoor fires presently burning within Red Deer County whether set with permission or under permit of the County, be extinguished immediately.

– The ignition of any outdoor fires within the boundaries of Red Deer County are hereby prohibited.

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– No new fire permits will be issued until further notice.

This ban DOES NOT apply to:

-Fires, which are contained within cooking and heating appliances and which are fueled by fluids, gases, or wood pellets.

– Fires contained within industrial facilities for operational purposes.

– Safe acceptable residential fire pits.*

– Gas/Propane fueled fire pits/stoves/barbecues.

– Catalytic or infrared style heaters.

* Safe acceptable residential fire pits – (a) A minimum of 1 meter clearance measured from the nearest fireplace edge to the nearest edge of buildings, property lines, or other combustible material; (b) Constructed of materials such as bricks or rocks that are non-combustible; (c) Equipped with a chimney that is not less than 2.5 meters in height when measured from the base of the fire burning area; (d) A chimney equipped with a regulation screen designed to contain and reduce the hazards of airborne sparks; (e) The base of the fire burning area is not less than 0.3 meters above the surrounding grade; and (f) The fire chamber does not exceed 1.25 meters in width, and is at least 0.4 meters but not more than 0.6 meters in depth.

Any person violating conditions of this ban may be held liable for any damages and/or costs associated with extinguishing the fire and full prosecution with penalties, in accordance with Red Deer County Fire Services Bylaw 2012/14 and/or the Forest Prairie Protection Act RSA.