Fire restrictions continue to expand across northern and central Alberta as dry spring conditions increase wildfire risk across the province. The Morinville Fire Department has issued a local fire advisory, joining a growing list of municipalities implementing preventive measures.
Current Fire Bans and Restrictions
According to the provincial government's Alberta Fire Bans website, fire bans are currently in effect in parts of Birch Hills County and the Grande Prairie area, where open burning is prohibited due to elevated fire danger and the potential for rapid fire spread. Further north and west, fire restrictions and advisories are in place across a broad corridor extending from Wood Buffalo National Park west and south toward Hinton, with additional restrictions reported along the Alberta-British Columbia border.
Morinville Fire Advisory
The Morinville Fire Department has issued a local fire advisory due to ongoing dry conditions. The advisory limits burning to approved backyard fire pits and CSA-approved appliances, and urges proper disposal of smoking materials. Officials caution that restrictions could escalate quickly if weather conditions deteriorate.
Recent Wildfire Incidents
The region's sensitivity to fast-moving grass fires has been underscored by past incidents, including a 2025 wildfire near Redwater in Sturgeon County that led to temporary evacuations and the relocation of displaced residents to reception centres in Morinville. Earlier this week, wildfire crews responded to several fires near Edmonton, including a blaze in the Sandy Beach area that destroyed three homes before being contained, as well as fires near Range Road 10 and Beau Rand Estates in Parkland County.
Municipal Responses
The Town of Gibbons issued a fire ban on May 4, while fire advisories or restrictions issued earlier this week remain in place in Spruce Grove, Stony Plain, Devon, and the City of Leduc as dry conditions persist in these areas. Similar precautionary advisories are being issued in other municipalities across the province as fire season ramps up, reflecting a broader trend of increasing restrictions and preventive measures.
County-Level Restrictions
Data from Alberta Wildfire and regional fire departments shows at least six central Alberta counties are currently under fire advisories or restrictions. Leduc, Westlock, and Lac Ste. Anne counties are under advisories, while Barrhead, Sturgeon, and Parkland counties are under fire restrictions. In Sturgeon County alone, fire officials reported seven grass fires so far this year, all believed to be human caused, highlighting the role of everyday activity in early-season ignition risk.
