Regional Fire Services |
Fire Advisory Amended (July 20/23) |
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Ponoka County Regional Fire Services oversees the operation of 2 Fire Departments.
If you have any questions regarding the fire departments please contact Donna Noble, Protective Services Coordinator by email donnanoble@ponokacounty.com or by phone at 403-783-3333, or Peter Hall, CAO by email peterhall@ponokacounty.com or by phone at 403-783-3333. If your call is an emergency please call 9-1-1 East District Fire Department (6705 46 Avenue, Ponoka) Boundaries: Everything East of the Fifth Meridian Road (Rge Rd 10) including the Town of Ponoka West District Fire Department (5030 49 Avenue, Rimbey) Boundaries : Everything West of the Fifth Meridian Road (Rge Rd 10) including the Town of Rimbey, Summer Village of Parkland Beach and the Hamlet of Bluffton. Ponoka County Fire Protection Bylaw 3-22-FP For all other contact information please visit our contact page by clicking here. |
The well needed moisture has been well received for all areas of the county and surrounding municipalities. However, the continuing warm windy weather and intermittent rain is continually changing our fire condition, as a result, the Fire Advisory will remain in place.
Open burn and fireworks discharge permit applications will be approved on a case by case basis throughout the Ponoka County Regional Fire Services response area (Ponoka County, including the Town of Rimbey, Town of Ponoka and Summer Village of Parkland Beach). Residents are permitted to use their backyard fire pit and burning barrel (both preferably with a screen), incinerators (for farm & acreage use), BBQs (propane/charcoal briquette) and smokers. Always remember to use extreme caution while using your fire pits, burn barrels and conducting any open burning. An “under control” fire can change in a matter of seconds or minutes. Thanks for helping keep the residents and community safe! |
FireSmart Canada is living with and managing for wildfire. Preparing for the threat of wildfire is a shared responsibility. Protecting your home from wildfire starts with simple actions. Whether you are doing regular yard maintenance or making large scale changes during renovations or landscaping, you can make choices that will help protect your home from wildfire. Some of the measures cost very little and can help reduce the vulnerability of your home to wildfire; others require planning and long-term commitment. Check out the FireSmart Begins at Home App.
- Home Construction – Use fire resistant building materials such as stucco, fire resistant shingles and double or triple pane windows can reduce the risk of fire sparks and embers igniting your home. FireSmart Home Development Guide
- Determine your risk by completing a FireSmart home assessment.
- Yard and Landscaping – You may already be taking actions that help to reduce your risk to wildfire; mowing and watering your lawn, planting fire resistant plants in your garden and using rock mulch instead of wood mulch can reduce your risk of wildfire. FireSmart Homeowner’s Manual
- Vegetation and Fuels - Preparing your property does not mean removing all the trees and shrubs. There are a few key things you can do to protect your home from wildfire:
- Prune tree branches to a minimum height of 2 metres
- Remove all combustible trees, long grass, shrubs, logs, branches, twigs and needles and grass mowed and watered within 10 metres of structures/buildings
- Thin trees (with 3-6 metres between crowns) for at least 30 metres from any structure
- Store firewood a minimum of 10 metres away from any structures (avoid down slope location)
- Contact your utility company if trees or branches are not clear of power lines
- FireSmart your fire pit or burning barrel
- Clear your driveway of trees to a distance of at least 3 metres on either side
- Farm and acreage – Each property is unique but a range of actions can help you to reduce your risk of wildfire. Focus on the following areas:
- Fences and ditch lines managed for dry grasses, weeds and brush
- Store bales, feed and firewood well away from any structures
- Consider vegetation management for outbuildings, barns and unused land
- Last Minute Wildfire Checklist
Fire Season
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Regulations in effect March 1st to October 31
Ponoka County is responsible for the administration of the Forest and Prairie Protection Act within the County including the Summer Village of Parkland Beach and the Towns of Rimbey and Ponoka. During the Fire Season, any person lighting a fire for any purpose, other than for burning household garbage or campfires in approved containers/methods, must have a valid fire permit. You may be liable for fire suppression costs and/or penalties as provided by law for any damage or suppression that may occur while burning without a valid permit. Most fire calls and associated costs can be easily avoided if precautions and extra care are taken. For example:
Taking the time to use the Mobile App or the form on the Ponoka County website will assist residents with the application. Provided all standard criteria is met, the permit will be approved for 7 days and status will be emailed to you. Provided to change to the location or type of burn, the permit can be extended. Listen for ban information on your local radio station. Check the County website at www.ponokacounty.com or the Alberta Fire Ban website at https://www.albertafirebans.ca/ While burning may be the simplest way to clean up a site, you may be breaking the law. Keep in mind under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act, burning certain materials is illegal. Burnable debris includes: brush/fallen trees, straw, stubble, grass, weeds, leaves, tree prunings and wood/wood products NOT containing preservatives. Prohibited debris include: animal manure, plastic (including baler twine), rubber (including tires), containers that held pesticides/chemicals, and wood/wood products containing wood preservatives. For more information check out Prohibited Debris: Before You Burn . . . Learn!! |
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