Fire Suppression on Provincial Grazing Reserves
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Note: This fact sheet was developed for Provincial Grazing Reserve Associations and is for information purposes only. The Forest and Prairie Protection Act and regulations will prevail in all cases. All municipalities and counties have bylaws outlining fire suppression responsibilities. It is strongly recommended that PGR Associations become familiar with these bylaws and consult the local authority for specific information on fire suppression protocols in the area.
Legal Source
Fire suppression responsibilities are governed by the Forest and Prairie Protection Act Revised Statutes of Alberta Chapter F19 with amendments in force May 16, 2003 as well as the Forest and Prairie Protection Regulation Part I (AR135/72), with amendments up to and including AR 251/2001 and Forest and Prairie Protection Regulation Part II (AR 310/72) up to and including AR 28/98. These documents can be viewed on the Queen's Printer web site. Some of the key sections of the Act include sections 1, 2, 7, 8 and 18.
What are the responsibilities of Provincial Grazing Reserve Associations?
Provincial Grazing Reserve (PGR) Associations must report all fires as soon as they are discovered and take appropriate action to contain and prevent the spread of the fire as well as possible until fire suppression crews arrive.
Fires proven to be caused by a third party, such as a recreational user, and non-negligent fires such as those caused by lightening strikes are not the responsibility of the PGR Association, except for containing and preventing spread, as outlined above.
PGR Associations are strongly advised to obtain adequate fire liability insurance in the event that responsibility for the wildfire on the part of the association or its members is established.
PGR Associations are advised to keep basic fire fighting equipment on hand to control or suppress fires. Examples of such equipment are water tanks, shovels and water pumps.
Fire Suppression Responsibilities
The agency responsible for fire fighting is usually determined by whether the fire originates inside or outside of the Forest Protection Area.
The Forest Protection Division of Alberta Sustainable Resource Development is responsible for fighting and extinguishing wildfires within the Forest Protection Area.
Outside the Forest Protection Area, municipalities are responsible for acting on and extinguishing wildfires on all lands within their jurisdiction, including Provincial Grazing Reserves.
See map (187KB PDF) for identification of PGRs found inside and outside the Forest Protection Area.
If the PGR Association or its members are found to have caused, directed the lighting of, or to have been otherwise responsible for staring a wildfire on a PGR the municipality or Forest Protection Division can charge the Association or its members for suppression costs.
The municipality or the Forest Protection Division conduct the investigation to determine the cause of fires that occur within their jurisdiction, and may recover fire suppression costs from the individual(s) found responsible.
PGR Associations are responsible for insuring their own assets.
Where do you report wildfires?
Municipal Fire Department (9-1-1 where available)
310-FIRE (310-3473)
Both numbers will work, whether inside our outside the Forest Protection Area
