Warm week prompts wildfire concerns in Alberta
With temperatures expected to hover around the 30 C mark throughout much of Alberta for the rest of the week, the risk of wildfire is on the rise.
As of Monday evening, there were 38 active wildfires across Alberta, bringing this year's total to 828.
An interactive map showing all current wildfires in Alberta can be found here.
The Calgary Forest Area wildfire danger remains very high, meaning any existing fire permits are currently suspended.
Fire bans are also in effect for several communities, including Banff, Canmore, Three Hills, Rocky View County, Foothills County, Cypress County, and Lethbridge's River Valley.
All updated fire bans and restrictions can be viewed here.
The City of Calgary is also under a heat warning.
Alberta Wildfire says it will continue to monitor the situation.
Southern Alberta is going to see temperatures exceed relative humidity for the next couple of days, creating a crossover condition, according to Derrick Forsythe, provincial information officer with Alberta Wildfire.
“When we see crossover conditions emerge, that’s an indication that if a wildfire starts, it will ignite quickly and spread rapidly so it’s a very precarious situation,” he told CTV News.
Forsythe said visitors should report wildfires they see by calling 310 Fire.
“It’s important that we take that step to responsible stewardship to ensure that those values remain on the landscape so that future generations can enjoy them the same way we are,” he said.
Meanwhile, in British Columbia, 149 wildfires were burning as of Monday morning, 57 of which are in the Southeast Fire Zone, and 245 wildfires had been reported in a seven-day window.
Residents of Sparwood, B.C. are keeping a close eye on one burning just five km away.
“We’ve been putting out frequent communications when situations change, and as of right now, the conditions have been quite favourable for crews to make significant progress on the Cummings Creek Fire, for example,” said Sarah Hall, provincial information officer with the B.C. Wildfire Service.
To view active wildfires burning in B.C., click here.
Based on data in the National Forestry Database (NFD), more than 8,000 fires occur yearly and burn an average of over 2.1 million hectares nationwide.
Last year, wildfires burned up 4.3 million hectares of Canadian forest.
According to the NFD, lightning causes about 50 per cent of all fires but accounts for about 85 per cent of the annual area burned.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Pedestrian, baby injured after stroller struck and dragged by vehicle in Squamish, B.C.
Police say a baby and a pedestrian suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a vehicle struck a baby stroller and dragged it for two blocks before stopping in Squamish, B.C.
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
Demonstrators kicked out of Ontario legislature for disruption after failed keffiyeh vote
A group of demonstrators were kicked out of the legislature after a second NDP motion calling for unanimous consent to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh failed to pass.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
RCMP uncovers alleged plot by 2 Montreal men to illegally sell drones, equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Government agrees to US$138.7M settlement over FBI's botching of Larry Nassar assault allegations
The U.S. Justice Department announced a US$138.7 million settlement Tuesday with more than 100 people who accused the FBI of grossly mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016, a critical time gap that allowed the sports doctor to continue to prey on victims before his arrest.
Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
Pro-Palestinian protests roiling U.S. colleges escalate with arrests, new encampments and closures
The student protests of Israel's war with Hamas that have been creating friction at U.S. universities escalated Tuesday as new encampments sprouted and some colleges encouraged students to stay home and learn online, after dozens of arrests across the country.