Wildfire danger increased to moderate in Grande Prairie Forest Area
Recent warm weather and gusty winds in the forecast have increased the wildfire danger in the Grande Prairie Forest Area to moderate.
Alberta Wildfire says high winds can cause extreme fire behavior, which then helps fires grow in a quicker fashion. With that, residents and back country users are urged to use caution if they are burning or using an off-highway vehicle in an area with dried grass.
“Spring is an especially dangerous time in terms of wildfire starts,” writes Wildfire Information Officer for the Grande Prairie Forest Area Kelly Burke. “Last year, 88 per cent of wildfires were human-caused which means they were completely preventable.”
Burke adds there have been eight wildfires recorded in the Grande Prairie Forest Area since March 1, burning a total of 5.7 hectares of land.