Town of Ponoka

With the forecasted warm and windy weather, Ponoka County Regional Fire Services has issued a fire restriction effective immediately for the Town of Ponoka.

Under the fire restriction, all active fire permits are suspended and new permits will not be issued until conditions improve. In addition, the use of fireworks is prohibited. 

Residents are encouraged to refrain from non-essential burning until conditions improve.

At this time, the following is still permitted, but please proceed with extra caution:

• Backyard fire pits (with a mesh screen and attended at all times) and burning barrels (in the industrial park only). Both can heat the ground around them resulting in a fire);
• Barbecues (propane/charcoal briquette) and smokers; and 
• Gas and liquid-powered appliances (stoves, lanterns and propane fire rings).

Users are still responsible for the care and attendance of all devices and should reduce their use during the fire restriction. 

Always remember to use extreme caution when using fire pits and burning barrels. An ‘under control’ fire can change in seconds or minutes.

Fire Pit Safety

When using bylaw compliant fire pits, citizens are urged to use extreme caution and never leave a fire pit unattended. Be aware of the weather conditions at all times and be sure to completely extinguish the flames and hot embers after you are done using your fire pit. 

All fire pits within the Town of Ponoka are required to:

• Be at least three metres from buildings, property lines, or anything else that could catch fire;
• Be equal to or less than 0.6 metres (two feet) high;
• Be equal to or less than one metre (three feet) wide;
• Have fully enclosed sides made of bricks, concrete blocks, heavy-gauge metal or other non-combustible materials; 
• Have a non-combustible mesh screen that covers the top of the fire pit with openings no larger than 1.25 cm (.5 inches) to stop sparks from flying out; and
• Have a water hose, fire extinguisher or some other acceptable means of controlling or extinguishing the fire nearby.

Thank you for helping keep our community safe. For updates on fire advisories, restrictions and bans across Alberta, including the Town of Ponoka, please visit www.albertafirebans.ca/