Alberta enacts fire restriction as wildfire conditions grow extreme

A sweeping fire restriction has been put in place across Alberta as hot, dry weather leaves forests tinder-dry.

Emergency officials are urging extreme caution in the weeks ahead as a persistent and severe drought pushes Alberta's wildfire danger to the extreme.

On Wednesday, following a wildfire information update, the province introduced a fire restriction in the province's forest protection areas in effort to manage the risk.

With the exception of Calgary's forest protection zone, all outdoor fires are now prohibited on public lands, including backcountry and random camping areas.

Wildfires have already prompted a handful of communities to temporarily evacuate and put hundreds more Albertans on notice to leave their homes at a moment's notice. 

The wildfire season started early and threatens to escalate quickly, said Josee St-Onge, a spokesperson for Alberta Wildfire.

"Conditions remain very dry," St-Onge said at a news conference Wednesday. "We need significant and continued rain to overcome the drought conditions that we are experiencing across many parts of the province."

Following a winter season with low precipitation, the snowpack has disappeared quickly this spring. Without extended rains, the risk will remain high.

"This is a critical time for wildfire in Alberta. Snow has melted and exposed dead and dry vegetation which is extremely flammable," St-Onge said. 

"Wildfires will easily ignite and can spread very quickly." 

Wildfires in Alberta have consumed more than 755 hectares of forest to date this season, compared to 440 hectares to this time last year. 

More than 200 fires have been reported this year, compared to 135 at this time last year. An average for this time of year is 120 wildfires, with around 230 hectares burned, St-Onge said.

As of Wednesday morning, 70 wildfires were burning across Alberta, including 63 that have ignited in forest protection zones.

The risk of new wildfires igniting is the most extreme in the northern parts of the province, with the risk rated as very high in regions including Fort McMurray, Lac La Biche, and Slave Lake.