MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - Provincial officials elevated the wildfire danger rating to very high across the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area Friday.
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.
"The wildfire danger in the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area is very high. Hot, dry weather with no significant rainfall is expected to continue, leaving vegetation dry and increasing the risk of wildfire," the province said in its Aug. 29 update for the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area.
"Under these conditions, wildfires can start easily and spread quickly," the update noted.
A fire advisory was issued for the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area Tuesday Aug. 26 and remains in effect.
- RELATED: Fire advisory enacted Tuesday in forest protection area west of Sundre
- RELATED: Fire restriction imposed in Mountain View County effective Wednesday
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. Fireworks and exploding targets are prohibited.
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 and has remained there since.
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.
Citing dry and hot conditions across the region, Mountain View County imposed a fire restriction for the entire municipality, effective Wednesday, Aug. 27.
