On Sunday, July 27, due to improved conditions, Lac La BIche County lifted the Off-Highway Vehicle Ban (OHV) that had been in effect since Tuesday, July 23.
Extremely hot and dry weather conditions in the Lac La Biche region had prompted the ban, whereby owners of off OHVs in Lac La Biche County were not permitted to operate them in any public areas within the County’s fire permitting area.
The wildfire hazard in the Lac La Biche Forest Protection area going into the weekend was at Extreme but has since been downgraded to Moderate.
On July 23, John Kokotilo, the regional fire chief for Lac La Biche County, said this OHV ban would continue until conditions significantly improved and the wildfire hazard was reduced.
“Due to the current extreme fire hazard, Lac La Biche County is taking all necessary measures to reduce the risk of wildfires affecting our community,” he said.
Regarding the concerns fire and government officials have about OHVs going through local trails and forests, as Kokotilo explained, when these vehicles are used in wildland areas, there is danger of vegetation and debris collecting near the exhaust systems of units. Once heated to a certain temperature, he continued, debris can fall off, ignite, and cause fires.
“The OHV operator may not notice, since the fire may catch when the operator has moved away from the initial debris drop,” he stated.
Kokotilo confirmed that the ban applies to public areas within the County’s fire permitting area and that the use of OHVs on private land, like an agricultural producer using a quad in their fields, is exempt.
Local fire officials are continuing to residents to use caution no matter the situation.
While the OHV ban has been lifted, Lac La Biche County's fire ban remains in place.
This means that all fire permits remain suspended or cancelled and no new fire permits will be issued.
