Campfires restricted in Kananaskis Country as southern Alberta fire risk increases

Continuing hot and dry conditions have prompted officials to put a fire restriction in a stretch of the Rocky Mountains and foothills.

Continuing hot and dry conditions have prompted officials to put a fire restriction in a stretch of the Rocky Mountains and foothills.

Tuesday morning, the province issued a fire restriction for the Calgary Forest Area and parts of the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area. The area that stretches from Waterton Lakes National Park wraps around Banff National Park and reaches up to Jasper National Park. Most of the popular Kananaskis Country is part of that fire restriction.

“For those campers in the random camping areas, we just simply cannot have any campfires right now,” Alberta Wildfire spokesperson Anastasia Drummond told Global News.

Wood campfires in backcountry camping areas are also prohibited. But campfires using metal fire rings in campgrounds and backyard fire pits are allowed.

All existing fire permits are suspended and outdoor fires burning under permits must be extinguished.

Fireworks and exploding targets are also not allowed under the fire restriction.

Drummond said a wet June and subsequent plant growth has delayed putting restrictions in place.

“We’re at the time of year where the grass is starting to cure, it’s getting very dry, a lot of the smaller fuels are drying out, which just means there’s a lot of fuel for any wildfires that could ignite,” she said. “Combine that with these winds, these warm temperatures and no real precipitation in the forecast: we’re at the point now where we have to restrict these campfires.”