Anyone who has conducted open burning during the winter is reminded to check their burn sites to ensure they have been completely extinguished. Athabasca County staff as part of their preparation for spring conduct checks of all winter burn sites. If you had a winter burn site assist County staff and check them for hot spots to ensure they are safe.
County staff employ the use of infrared cameras and steel probes to get to the centre of burn piles to determine if they are hot. If there is a concern the property owner/permit holder is made aware of the concern and how to remedy it.
Winter burn sites and brush piles can produce embers that can travel in the wind and eventually become the source of a wildfire. Taking a bit of time to check your burn sites now can prevent a wildfire later this spring when conditions usually get tinder dry.
Reduce the risks. If your burn site is not completely extinguished, and your permit has expired, you are in violation of the Forest and Prairie Protection Act and subject to a fine. In addition, you are responsible for all costs to extinguish a fire which starts on your land.
Consult your fire permit for specifics on how your brush pile is to be managed:
For more information about winter burn sites, and reducing the fire risk from them, contact the Athabasca County Administration office.
The best time to check your brush piles is on a cold day with no wind:
