This Fire Season, Prevent Surprise Holdover Fires

This Fire Season, Prevent Surprise Holdover Fires 

As wildfire season begins March 1, residents are urged to watch for holdover fires—remnants of winter burn piles that can smoulder silently underground before reigniting in spring. 

“Fire has a long memory. Just because a pile looked out in December doesn’t mean it forgot how to burn,” says Trevor Grant, County Regional Fire Chief. “A few minutes spent checking your burn sites can make all the difference.” 

Holdover fires occur when embers from burn piles become protected in dense piles of debris, roots, or organic material, and insulated by snow frozen soil. As spring temperatures melt snow and warm the land, hidden embers reemerge, feeding on warm winds and the fresh fuel provided by dry grass and debris. 

Residents must be more diligent practicing safe burning this year, as higher drought conditions before the snowfall has created perfect conditions for smouldering fires. 

Tips for preventing holdover fires 

• Create and maintain a buffer zone around the burned area. This zone should be free of flammable materials and vegetation that could catch fire easily. By having a clear area, you can prevent a holdover fire from spreading to adjacent fields or forests. 

• Consider tilling the burned area. Tilling can help extinguish any remaining embers by burying them under the soil, reducing the oxygen supply needed for combustion.  

• Check that piles are out by inserting a steel rod or pry bar – if it’s hot, the pile is still burning inside or underground. Stirring the burn pile helps ensure it’s completely extinguished.  

Request a fire permit 

For those who wish to burn debris, obtaining a fire permit is a straightforward process. Check for any active fire restrictions, which do not allow for new permits to be issued until the restriction is lifted. Depending on where you plan to burn, you may need to contact Alberta Agriculture and Forestry for a fire permit. For more information, visit www.countygp.ab.ca/holdoverfires.   

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Media Contact: 
Communications and Marketing 
communications@countygp.ab.ca