With the forest fire season in full swing, Lac La Biche Sustainable Resource Development staff members say most residents have been left confused about where to get fire permits and when they can and can’t burn.
“It’s important for people to understand that there is a three-level system in place in Lac La Biche County,” said Leslie Lozinski, Forest Information officer at the local SRD office.
The three-level system for fire bans and fire permits consists of the county, the forest protection area and provincial parks. Lozinski explains that residents living in Lac La Biche County should get their fire permits from the county and should follow any fire bans they might have in place. Residents living in the county but also living in the Forest Protection area need to get their fire burning permits from SRD and are forced to follow forestry fire bans. Finally, Lozinski adds that people still living within the county borders but also living in the provincial park area need to follow provincial parks rules. The local forestry officer says they have been receiving several calls from people unsure with the fire permit rules over the past few weeks, emphasizing the need for people to be educated on which rules to follow and where to get their permits.
“It can be really hard to figure out but it’s important for people to know whose rules to follow,” said Lozinski, adding that Plamondon has been one of the trickier areas for people to understand where they can or can’t burn since the forest protection border runs straight through town. “We have had several people call us and ask why their neighbour can have a fire and why they can’t, which is why people should inquire whose rules to follow before burning.”
The local SRD office has also received several calls from people over the past few weeks asking about fire bans in other areas in the province before leaving on vacation. Lozinski suggests that all vacationers verify if their destination has a fire ban in place before leaving whether they plan to burn or not.
“People want to follow the rules which is why we have been getting so many calls. It’s important that people follow the fire bans that might be in place outside of the county because they can be charged if found starting a fire,” she said.
For more information on active fire bans across the province, log onto www.firebans.ca
