(Image Credit: County of Grande Prairie)

By Nathaniel Leigh

County of Grande Prairie

County of Grande Prairie advising residents to help prevent holdover fires

Feb 26, 2026 | 11:02 AM

The County of Grande Prairie is urging residents to be mindful of holdover fires as we enter wildfire season next month.

Holdover fires are the remnants of winter burn piles that smoulder underground before reigniting in the spring.

The County is asking residents to be even more diligent this year as higher drought conditions before the snow fall has created the perfect conditions for smouldering fires.

“Fire has a long memory. Just because a pile looked out in December doesn’t mean it forgot how to burn,” says Trevor Grant, County Regional Fire Chief. “A few minutes spent checking your burn sites can make all the difference.”

To prevent holdover fires, the County recommends anyone conducting a burn to maintain a buffer zone, consider tilling the burned area, and check that piles are out by inserting a steel rod or pry bar and checking if its hot.

Anyone wishing to burn debris will need to obtain a fire permit first and check if the county is under any active fire restrictions.