Fire Guardians & Fire Permits

Fire Permits Are Required by Law

March 1 - October 31

Other than a campfire or burning barrel, any person lighting an open fire for burning debris or any other purpose must have a valid fire permit.

Permits may be obtained from your local fire guardian or online. Fire permits are free. Fire Permits are issued for a 10 day period, however; they may be cancelled before expiry date if the fire danger makes such action necessary.

View the County of Wetaskiwin Fire Protection Zones map (PDF).

Forest Protection Area (FPA):
Parts of the County of Wetaskiwin fall within the Rocky Mountain House Forest Protection Area.

From March 1 - October 31, all burning activities in the FPA, excluding campfires, require a fire permit. Alberta Wildfire is the governing jurisdiction for this area for burn permits and fire ban status.

This includes lands located West of Range Road 73, South of Township Road 454, and those lands located South of Township Road 460 and East of Range Road 55 to Range Road 42.

If you are within the FPA, you are required to obtain a Provincial Fire Permit from Alberta Agriculture & Forestry at 403-845-8250 or view more information here.

View the FPA map.

Permit Requirements

Fire permits are required during fire season which starts March 1 and ends October 31. There are however, provisions for fire season to be reduced or extended in duration if the risk or dangers of forest fires exist. Any changes to the normal fire season will be announced in the news media and on the County website.

Regulations

A fire permit is a legal document which conditionally authorizes a person to burn wood debris at a time specified on the permit. By obtaining a fire permit you have simply indicated your wish to burn. The responsibility for conducting a safe burn is yours.
Anyone who sets a fire under the authority of a permit must:
  • Keep the permit at the fire
  • Produce and show the permit to an officer upon request
  • Keep the fire under control
  • Extinguish the fire before expiration or upon cancellation of the permit, or obtain a renewal
  1. Fire Control
  2. Burning Barrels
  3. Ash Disposal
  4. Brush Piles
  5. Prohibited Debris
  6. Burnable Debris
  7. Stubble Burning
  8. Burning Near Roadways
Fire Control Tips
  • Before lighting any fire, a permit holder must take precautions to ensure that the fire is kept under control at all times.
  • Fires must not be lit when weather conditions are conductive to fires escaping or getting out of control. Contact your nearest fire guardian for specific advice.
  • No one may deposit, discard or leave any burning material in a place where it may ignite and result in a fire.