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Town fire ban lifted

The fire ban in Okotoks been lifted, but a ban remains in the MD of Foothills. The Town removed the full fire ban Thursday afternoon, after more than 12 hours of rain and snow fell in the area.

The fire ban in Okotoks been lifted, but a ban remains in the MD of Foothills.

The Town removed the full fire ban Thursday afternoon, after more than 12 hours of rain and snow fell in the area.

Fire chief Ken Thevenot said he’s satisfied conditions have improved with the amount of moisture Okotoks received.

“This last week we’ve had a lot of moisture in the area,” he said. “It’s given us reason to lift the ban completely.”

Thevenot said a secondary reason the ban was first issued on May 5 was to mitigate the provincial risk and ensure local firefighting resources would not be depleted if they were called north to help battle fires in the Fort McMurray area, but that concern has decreased.

“One of the reasons last week was to help out provincially, and I believe at this point some of that risk has lessened,” said Thevenot. “We’re in a much better position this week than last week.”

Many town and cities across the province are beginning to lift their fire bans. The MD of Foothills remains under a full ban. The province-wide fire ban, also issued May 5, is still in place and prohibits any type of fire in provincial parks and recreation areas, counties, and municipal districts.

A province-wide ban on the use of off-highway vehicles such as quads is also in effect on public lands and in provincial parks.

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