Some people hoping to enjoy an outdoor fire over the August long weekend will be able to do so now that Lac La Biche County has moved from a fire ban to a restriction due to improved conditions, as of Wednesday afternoon.
John Kokotilo, regional fire chief for Lac La Biche County, stated that this move from a fire ban to a restriction means fire permits will be issued on a case-by-case basis, while safe outdoor fires for cooking or warmth are permitted in engineered fire pits only.
Even though the rules have been relaxed somewhat, local fire officials continue to urge residents to be cautious.
“Conditions are still dry and relatively hot,” Kokotilo told Lakeland This Week. “As always, it is important to fully extinguish any fires and obey all current fire restrictions.
Currently, the regional fire chief continued, the wildfire risk in the Lac La Biche region is high. This may worsen, he added, if the area continues to receive hot, dry conditions. Going into the weekend, dry temperatures in the mid to high 20s are forecasted for the area.
According to Kokotilo, getting large amounts of snow this coming winter-along with a wet fall-will help immensely when wildfire season arrives again next year.
On July 27, Lac La Biche County lifted a ban that had been put in place a few days earlier that prohibited the operation of Off Highway Vehicles (OHVs) such as quads and ATVs on public land within the County’s fire permitting area. This ban, Kokotilo said, was lifted because conditions had improved.
