Travis Dosser
8/12/2012
Firefighters continue to battle blazes across the province in this busy wildfire season.
Wildfire Information Officer Whitney Exton tells 630CHED News there are currently only 3 fires listed as out of control, and they are all in the Upper Hay area near High Level.
"One is about 13 hectares, one is about 100 and the other is about 200 hectares in size," explains Exton. "The hectares burned is less, but you know, about 800 wildfires we've seen this year are confirmed human caused and that means that 800 wildfires we've seen are 100 per cent preventable."
Heavy equipment, aircraft and air-tankers are working with fire crews on the ground to try and knock down the blazes. Exton says one of the three fires is under investigation, but the other two were caused by lightning.
"There's lots of lightning fires this year and that's why we've got lots of crews and lots of firefighters pre-positioned around the province in those really dry areas that way they can action those fires and contain them as fast as possible," explained Exton.
According to Exton, there are 21 fires being held, 27 under control, 1 turned over and the 3 aforementioned out-of-control fires.
Alberta firefighters are also helping out our neighbours to the south tackling blazes in Montana. (twd)
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