MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - Provincial officials enacted a fire advisory in the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area Tuesday, a day after elevating the wildfire danger rating to high across the protection area.
Parts of Mountain View County are included in the forest area, namely west of Sundre and Bergen, covering Coal Camp and Bearberry west of Range Road 60 from Township Road 312 to the north boundary of the county.
"Hot and dry conditions are expected to continue, creating an increased risk of wildfires. Under these conditions, wildfires can ignite easily and spread quickly," the province said in its Aug. 26 update for the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area.
Due to continued high temperatures, officials say a fire advisory was enacted Aug. 26 for the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area.
While existing fire permits remain valid under the advisory, new permits will be issued on a case-by-case basis for essential burning only.
Safe campfires are still allowed.
Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a special weather statement for Mountain View County Sunday, warning of a long-duration heat event. The special weather statement continued to be in effect in the area on Monday but has since been revoked.
Provincial officials had already warned last week that the wildfire danger rating for the area was expected to change.
"Warm daytime temperatures with little to no rain are expected to continue into next week," an Aug. 21 update for the area said. "While cooler overnight conditions help slow the drying process, vegetation will continue losing moisture during the day, which may lead to an increase in wildfire danger in the coming days."
Another portion of Mountain View County is in the Calgary Forest Area, namely west of Range Road 54 from Township Road 310 to the south boundary of the county west of Water Valley. The wildfire danger in the Calgary Forest Area was elevated to high on Aug. 25 after being rated moderate since Aug. 21.
As of the time that the fire advisory was issued for the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area, none had been issued for the Calgary Forest Area.
