Although the nice weather makes sitting around an outdoor fire tempting, Cochrane Fire Services is reminding the community at large that we are still under a fire ban.

Inspector Jeff Avery with Cochrane Fire Services, says while he has heard rumours that a few flakes of snow are on their way, conditions currently are far too dry to have the ban lifted. "The forecast is saying there might be some snow coming this week which will be a good thing but it will depend on how much. Every time it gets super windy it just seems to dry everything out so fast."

The town-wide fire ban came into effect on January 4th, and while most people have been compliant, says Avery, the fire department has responded to a few calls of in town burnings. "We have responded to a few burning complaints, where we have asked the people to put the fire out and explain that there is a fire ban."

While Fire Services knows it takes time for word to sometimes spread throughout town, the grace period is starting to wear off. "After over a week of education and letting people know that the fire ban is on, we may have to start enforcing now if we are still going out to fires. We haven't had to yet which is a good thing because normally the residents are really compliant but if we keep responding to a few different fires than we may have to get bylaw involved and do some ticketing."

Cochrane Fire Services always tries to be proactive in their messaging and ticketing is their last resort.

If you notice anyone having a fire within the Town of Cochrane, Avery says to call 911 and the fire department will respond. 

The fire ban will remain in effect until the Fire Chiefs office deems conditions appropriate for the ban to be lifted, in which we will notify the public.