(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Dawson Thompson

Fire Control

Prince Albert mayor wants fire ban at Little Red River Park

Jul 13, 2021 | 12:00 PM

The mayor of Prince Albert is calling on the fire chief to implement a fire ban at Little Red River Park.

Mayor Greg Dionne made the plea because of the ongoing hot, dry weather, the extensive fire bans elsewhere in the province, and with the memory of the late spring wildfire on the city’s outskirts still firmly on his mind. However, the city’s fire chief says such a ban is unnecessary.

“The national park has a fire ban, every provincial park and crown land has fire bans,” Dionne said during Monday’s council meeting. “The RM of Prince Albert has a fire ban. The RM of Buckland that surrounds the park has a fire ban. I just don’t understand why we don’t have a fire ban on Little Red.”

“I am requesting that you [Prince Albert Fire Chief] put a fire ban on, starting tomorrow, [July 13, 2021.]”

The mayor cited the quick spread of the recent Cloverdale fire on the city’s outskirts as one of the reasons the ban should be in place.

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“Every time I drive by there, I think of the Cloverdale fire, and we’re not done. Little Red and the area around is just a matchbox waiting to happen,” Dionne said. “I know the fire chief does not want to be working for 50 hours putting out a fire again.”

Prince Albert fire chief, Kris Olsen, who attends the regular council meetings, said the fire ban would be unnecessary.

“I do consider with our resources, with our implemented checks, the bylaw and approved fire pits, it is accepted practice to have fires at Little Red River Park,” Olsen replied.

The fire chief added Prince Albert has a large enough department to respond to any fire that may occur, something other departments do not have and that is one of the reasons the ban is not in place, like in some other areas.

The fire department does four control checks on the park a day: 9 a.m.,12 p.m., 6 p.m., and 9 p.m.

“With the dwarf mistletoe and the undergrowth there it is a risk 365 days. It’s always a risk,” Olsen said. “It’s been that way for my 26 years with the fire department. We’ve always been told it’s going to burn.”

Olsen pointed out the park has less than 30 approved fire pits which all have three meters of clearance and are not at risk to start wild fires.

“The risk in my 26 years with the department has not been in the approved fire pits. The risk is done by those burning after hours, hidden from roads. That is the true risk,” Olsen said. “I do not know of a case that has happened from an approved pit.”

Olsen did however add if it is the wish of council, they will put a fire ban on the area.

The mayor’s call for the ban was made during the inquiry period of the council meeting and was not a formal motion. Dionne said he would be bringing his request to council again.

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Dawson.thompson@pattisonmedia.com

On twitter: @dawsonthompson8