Fire season starts today

March 1 marks the first day of wildfire season in Alberta.

From March 1 to October 31, a fire permit is required to do any type of outdoor burning in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta with the exception of campfires.

Burning permits are free and can be obtained by calling the appropriate office for your area:

• High Level Forest Area, 780-926-5407
• Peace River Forest Area, 780-624-6190
• Slave Lake Forest Area, 780-849-7377
• Grande Prairie Forest Area, 780-538-5560

With fire season starting, winter burns should be checked up on to make sure they are completely out. If these fires are still burning, they have the potential to spread underground as well as under snow and ice. Under the right conditions, these fires could re-emerge in the spring into wildfires.

To check if a winter burn is still burning:

1. Spread around any remaining debris so you can probe the area for hotspots
2. Use your bare hand to feel for heat over the ash piles

If you see smoke or feel heat, douse any remaining hotspots with water and stir up the ashes.

-Erika Rolling, Trending 55 Newsroom