A Question About the Fire Ban

Today, in an email, I was asked why we have a fire ban. We have a fire ban, like many of our regional neighbours including the RM of Kindersley and Eston, as a preventative measure. The current ban is for open fires, fire pits, and fireworks within the Town and Regional Park.

This ban does not affect gas and charcoal briquette barbeques with lids, nor cheminea with doors (the fancy caged outdoor fire places with little chimneys) for the purpose of cooking and heating.

Before I respond let me say this about our Chief and his brigade: I am proud to be their Mayor. I have learned since I was elected that Chief Hope and his crew are highly respected throughout the province for their professionalism, expertise and dedication. Our members of the department are highly trained and in many cases have more experience than many career fire department personnel in cities across Western Canada.

Chief Hope and his team are not just responsible for fighting fires but, I think just as important, preventing fires. Preventing fires means minimizing risk to our community’s people and property and ensuring our Town’s ongoing success.

·         Our fire department is a regional fire department in all but name. As a result they respond to calls beyond our boundaries.

·         So far this year the fire department has responded to almost a false alarm per week and 70 calls. (This is a lot of a non-career department where the crew have other jobs and employers, who are supportive of the program, expect their employees to serve their customers as well.)

·         This year has seen the Fire Department respond to the highest number of grass fires on record.

·         There are many areas of our community that border tall unkempt grass, fields, and prairie and are at greater risk. This risk also puts at risk neighbouring homes and businesses.

·         There are yards in town that are not kept to a standard to prevent a fire starting from sparks from an open pit fire. Our neighbours’ backyards may be drier, have tall grass and weeds, dry lumber and other materials that could catch fire from a spark.

For more information here is a news segment.

I'm sure that when there is more moisture, as the farmers want, then there will be a reevaluation of the situation.

Thank you for asking; I hope this answers your question. Please email me if you have any other questions or comments.

Enjoy our busy weekend! There is lots to do.