EDMONTON – WILD FIRE Alberta is gearing up for the 2017 Wild Fire Season after a massive fire season in 2016 that saw billions of dollars in damage.
“Last fall, we passed important legislation to help deter unsafe behaviour and give our wildland firefighters more tools to keep Albertans and their communities safe. These strengthened regulations send a clear message that we all share a responsibility to help prevent wildfires,” says Oneil Carlier, the Alberta Minister of Agriculture and Forestry.
Enhancements to the Forest and Prairie Protection Act regulations include:
- New penalties for infractions such as leaving a campfire unattended or burning without a permit
- Restrictions on the use of fireworks or exploding targets in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta without written permission from a forest officer
- Improvements to flammable debris disposal and other industry-based requirements
Individuals who knowingly contravene the Forest and Prairie Protection Act by starting a wildfire can be fined up to $100,000 or face imprisonment for up to two years.
Industrial users who knowingly contravene the Act and start a wildfire can be fined up to $1 million.
Corporations may also face penalties of up to $10,000 per offence per day for less severe industrial-based violations of the Act and regulations.
Effective May 1, officers will be authorized to issue tickets for contraventions, like leaving a campfire unattended. Depending on the infraction, individual fines for specific violations could result in tickets ranging from between $172 and $575.
Activities that interfere with the fighting of a wildfire, such as the unauthorized use of drones near a wildfire, are considered more severe offences and will result in an automatic court appearance.
In 2016, Alberta wildfire crews fought more than 1,300 fires that consumed more than 600,000 hectares. About 70 per cent of wildfires over the last five years have been linked to human activity.
