The August Long Weekend means many people will be swarming to our area to enjoy the outdoor recreational opportunities abound. This time around, though, they will have to leave their off-highway vehicles (OHV) at home.

The Alberta government is restricting the use of OHVs in forest areas south of the Red Deer River along the mountains and foothills to the northern border of Waterton National Park because of the extreme fire hazard now being experienced due to hot, dry weather and minimal precipitation. That is in addition to the fire ban that remains in place. throughout the region.

"Off-highway vehicles can cause wildfires when debris gets caught up in the hot spots of the vehicle around the exhaust, wheel wells and under the seat, then become super heated and drop down and starts a wildfire," explains Agriculutre and Forestry minister Oneil Carlier. "This OHV ban will help reduce the chance that a wildfire will start in this already kinder dry area."

Conditions, in fact, haven't been this dry in the region since 2003, according to Alberta Wildfire officials, and every opportunity to prevent the risk of wildfires is being considered.

Since March there have been about 200 fires in the Calgary region, and Wildfire officials say the majority have been caused by abandoned campfires and they believe at least one was caused by an OHV.

Violating a fire ban results in a $287 fine, says Chad Morrison, senior manager of Wildfire Prevention, and ignoring the the OHV ban results in a fine of up to $575. Also, those found responsible for causing a wildfire now face stiffer fines of between $100,000 and $1 million.

While no open fires are permitted and all fire permits have been suspended, the use of gas or propane stoves/barbecues and portable propane fire pits are allowed.

Extended hot, dry weather is forecast well into next week.

To stay abreast of fire bans across the province visit here.