A short winter with very little snowpack has led to dry conditions. This, along with warm weather and high winds has towns and counties warning there is a high risk of fire.
On April 1, Wheatland County upgraded its Fire Ban Advisory to a full Fire Ban. This means permit burning in the county is banned and all outstanding permits are suspended. The ban prohibits fire and fireworks permits, fires contained within approved facilities and appliances in designated camping and recreational areas, incinerators (for farm and acreage use), recreational campfires (approved fire pit 24” in diameter or less), regulated burning barrels, and solid fuel barbecues (charcoal briquettes).
On March 22, Kneehill County issued a Fire Advisory.
On April 7, the Town of Drumheller issued a Fire Advisory, Fire Chief Bruce Wade says they are monitoring the situation closely. On March 19, the department responded to a grass fire near Dorothy that appears to have been started by a vehicle exhaust system igniting dry grass, and on Thursday, April 1, the department was called to a smoldering planter on a deck at a residence.
“I am certainly watching it very closely, it is really dry out,” said Wade. “We need a pile of moisture.”
He reminds residents to carefully dispose of smoking materials, and not to use planters to extinguish smoking materials because the dry plants or peat can ignite. Use a container with water. Also he says to make sure backyard fire pits are fully extinguished, and to burn clean firewood to reduce sparking and producing smoke.
Special Areas Fire Chief Glen Durand issued a press release warning of the dry conditions. It implemented a Fire Advisory on March 10.
According to the release, over the past few years, wildfires – specifically grassfires – have become more frequent and more destructive in this region. To help residents better protect properties and operations, Special Areas Fire Services are highlighting some easy fire prevention techniques from FireSmart Canada. FireSmart Canada is a national program that helps identify and reduce risks wildfires pose to communities and structures. Originally designed for the wildland/urban interface, this initiative is now used in all areas of the Province.
“Local fire departments have seen the difference fire prevention makes in reducing the impact of grassfires. FireSmart applies to everyone, especially as living in the Special Areas can mean long distances and travel times for fire departments. Implementing FireSmart in your yard, around your home, or on your larger operation is one of the best ways you can directly reduce your risks,” said Durand.
Launched last fall, a new FireSmart app is available to help rural residents and property owners identify simple, practical, proactive steps they can take to reduce wildfire risks. This free app is available for Android and iPhone users at Google Play and App Store.

It was no April Fool’s joke when Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announced there would be no easing of restrictions ahead of the Easter long weekend during the Thursday, April 1 regular COVID update.
As new case numbers continue to climb, with 875 new cases reported during the Thursday update, so too are the number of variants of concern cases.
“Instead of delivering a message of openness and optimism, I’m here instead with a plea. Please, please follow Alberta’s health restrictions and guidelines this weekend, and in the weeks to come,” Premier Kenney said during the press conference.
He reminded Albertans of the ongoing restriction on indoor social gatherings, and encouraged those who wished to gather to do so outside with social distancing.
Since December 2020, when the first variants of concern were identified in the province, the number of new variant cases continues to climb. As of Thursday’s update, 322 of the 875 new cases were confirmed as a variant of concern, accounting for 39.2 per cent of all active cases across the province.
There have been 714 total variant cases in the Central Health Zone, which includes the Town of Drumheller; all these variant cases are the B.1.1.7 strain first identified in the United Kingdom (UK).
Due to the Easter long weekend there was no update on Monday, April 5; however, Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw provided an update via Twitter.
“Over the last 24 hours, we identified 887 new cases. Another 432 variants were confirmed, meaning 39 per cent of active cases are now variants,” Dr. Hinshaw said in a Tweet.
She also provided an update regarding an outbreak of a newly reported variant of concern in the province, the P.1 variant first identified in Brazil.
“At this time, the outbreak appears linked to a large employer with multiple sites across Western Canada. The outbreak started with a traveller returning to Alberta from out of province,” the update states. According to the update there have now been 26 cases linked to employees who travelled between three work sites in Central and North Health Zones, and their household members.
Dr. Hinshaw concluded the update saying, “I am concerned about the rising cases, including variants, in our province.”
While case numbers across the province continue to rise, locally cases remain steady following a spike in March which saw local daily cases surpass previous highs from November 2020.
As of Monday, April 5 there are 31 active and 360 recovered cases for the Town of Drumheller. This includes 14 active and 163 recovered cases among inmates at the Drumheller Institution. There are also two active cases in Wheatland County, seven in Starland County, and 17 in Kneehill County.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney joined Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw during the COVID update on Tuesday, April 6 to announce Alberta will, effective immediately, be returning to Step 1 of the phased reopening due to rising cases of COVID-19 and its variants across the province.

Effective immediately, retail services and shopping malls will be limited to 15 per cent occupancy capacity, libraries will also be closed to the public, and fitness and indoor recreation is limited to one-on-one individual or household training with a professional trainer. Personal and wellness services, including hair salons and tattoo parlors, will remain open by appointment only.

Effective Friday, April 9 at noon, restaurants, pubs, bars, lounges and cafes will close for in-person dining, except for patio and takeout, curbside pickup, or delivery.

Premier Kenney also announced the province will be ramping up the vaccine distribution program, and the province is expanding Phase 2B of vaccine distribution to allow those born between 1974 and 2005, with underlying health conditions, to be immunized.

More details on Alberta's Path to Recovery will be provided at a later, undetermined date.