Sparking better behaviour: Teaching wildfire safety around northern Alberta
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With the long weekend's recreation ahead, Sturgeon County officials' state of local emergency remained in place, with total fire and OHV/ATV bans still in place as of Friday at noon.
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The Redwater Recreation Area remained closed by Alberta Parks, with a 3,230-hectare active fire being held but still active despite cooler weather and days of fighting a blaze that covered thousands of hectares.
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'With the long weekend approaching, please keep in mind that the risk of wildfires is at an all-time high. No outdoor fires are allowed, and no new burn permits or fireworks permits will be issued,' said a release from the county.
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Anyone who witnessed a ban violation was urged to call the complaint line at 780-939-8418.
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'Firefighters continue to look for and extinguish remaining hot spots in the interior of the fire. This work takes time, as the fire has burned deeply into the ground in some areas. Helicopter support is available if required.
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'Firefighters need space to do their work safely. For your safety and the safety of first responders, please respect road closures and avoid burned areas,' the release said.
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Getting FireSmart
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FireSmart is a national program meant to help Canadians increase neighbourhoods' resilience to wildfires and minimize their negative impacts.
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It was founded in three decades ago to address common concerns about wildfire in the wildland-urban interface.
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Earlier this month, as Edmonton emergency responders juggled a rare three-alarm fire, a huge grass fire set tinder ablaze in northwestern Edmonton all in the same window. It was another reminder to Fire Chief David Lazenby that FireSmart prevention starts in the hearts and minds of Albertans.
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For some urban cities, wildfires aren't a common threat, but with Edmonton's scenic River Valley and the green areas surrounding the city, there's corresponding risks — and being prepared means looking at everything from development to response, Lazenby said.
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'When we look at the wildland interface, that's a connection point between the River Valley and the community at the top of the River Valley there, we're building a whole city strategy. So it's not just the Fire and Rescue Service, it's city operations, it's urban planning,' Lazenby said.
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