Local news delivered daily to your email inbox. Subscribe for FREE to the rdnewsNOW newsletter.

Fire bans in effect for Red Deer and Red Deer County

Aug 8, 2018 | 9:38 AM

RED DEER- In light of dry conditions and poor air quality, the City of Red Deer has issued a full city-wide fire ban effective immediately .

The ban is being put in place to help prevent fires in the city and to reduce health concerns.

The following fires are not allowed:

– Open fires using charcoal, briquettes or wood in the City of Red Deer

– Any sources of open flame (i.e. Tiki Torches)

– All existing fire permits are suspended

The following fires are allowed within city limits:

– Certified portable gas fire pits

– Certified gas stoves or barbeques designed for cooking

– Certified cooking appliances utilizing charcoal, briquettes or wood pellets on residential property

Red Deer Emergency Services encourages residents to take extra caution to prevent fires.

Proper disposal of smoking materials is very important as many fires are started by individuals throwing them out a window or discarding them in planters.

Any person contravening the fire ban will be subject to a $210 fine and applicable response fees.

The ban will remain in effect until conditions change, and further notice is given. Updates will be posted to the city website.

Red Deer County has also implemented a fire ban throughout the entire county.

The county fire ban 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.

This ban does not apply to:

– Fires, which are contained within cooking and heating appliances and which are fuelled by fluids, gases or charcoal briquettes

– Fires contained within industrial facilities for operational purposes.

– Propane fueled fire pits.

For more information on fire bans across the province, visit https://albertafirebans.ca/