City of Edmonton lights prescribed burn as part of fire prevention efforts
Global News
The Northeast River Valley Park was closed for a prescribed burn, meant to clear grass and weeds in the park. Preventative fire is a recent add to the city's fire protection plan.
Edmonton firefighters spent Wednesday morning lighting a fire, instead of putting one out.
The Northeast River Valley Park was closed by Edmonton Fire Rescue for a prescribed burn, meant to clear grass and weeds in the park.
The preventative fire is a recent addition to the city’s fire protection plan.
“We’re seeing more and more fires around so we just want to use different techniques to prepare different areas and mitigate the risk and hazards that are out there on the landscapes we have,” said Darren Grove, the acting general manager for the city’s open space operations.
The most critical landscape might be the city’s river valley.
“We have seen a couple fires over the years in the valley,” said Chris Szydlowski, who owns River Valley Adventure Co.
In April 2023, one of those fires even damaged a downtown hotel, not far from Szydlowski’s business.
The business is right in the river valley and offers tours of the area.
