Organization: Alberta Wildfire

Eighteen people in the Municipal District of Pincher Creek now have the authority to issue fire permits and enforce burning restrictions after council formally appointed the district’s full slate of fire guardians for the first time in several years.

Council approved 17 appointments at its Sept. 9 regular meeting, with community peace officer Robyn Potter confirmed separately at the Aug. 25 meeting. All appointments are retroactive to April 1, 2026.

The appointments are made under Alberta’s Forest and Prairie Protection Act, which establishes the province’s framework for wildfire protection, fire control and burning restrictions. The act sets out the fire season, allows for cost recovery and fire control orders, and outlines the responsibilities of forest officers and fire guardians.

It requires the council of a rural municipality to appoint, each year in time for the start of fire season, enough fire guardians to enforce the act within the municipality’s boundaries, excluding any portion that falls within a forest protection area. Those guardians may, at their discretion, issue fire permits for land outside that area.

Pincher Creek’s fire chief, Pat Neumann, says the role itself has not changed, and the appointments largely formalize responsibilities his department has carried out for years.

“We issue debris burn permits to allow people to burn and have firepits within the town and the MD of Pincher Creek,” Neumann says. “It’s a council appointment that lays out who has responsibility to not only issue permits, but also enforce any restrictive actions based on those permits.”

MD administration noted the appointments had lapsed for a couple of years. Neumann says that was tied to changes made to the Forest and Prairie Protection Act about two years ago.

“Part of the MD lies within what we call the forest protection area,” he says. “It’s not necessary to have somebody appointed to that because we’re no longer issuing permits within that forest protection area.”

“It doesn’t change anything for landowners, it doesn’t change how the permits work, it doesn’t change the legislation and the fines and the necessity to have permits,” he says. “It just adds one more step to specifically identify who issues them within an organization.”

Neumann says he raised the issue with his commission board and decided the appointments were worth renewing even though they were no longer strictly required.

Those approved alongside Potter include officers and administrative staff within the fire department: Mysti Ayers, Nichole Boissoneault, Lynn Brasnett, Sariah Brasnett, Ian Campbell, Jason Carney, Richard Claude, Kathryn Feist, Jennifer Fisher-Sundberg, Jordan Gervais, Tammy Jack, Anne Molnar, Patrick Neumann, Iris Reed, Lynn Roberts, William Thorpe and Michael Whittington. Appointment letters are to be signed by the reeve.

Potter’s appointment was handled separately because she was new to her position and was appointed before the annual slate came to council, says MD executive assistant Jessica McClelland.

Potter’s community peace officer designation also requires the fire guardian appointment for enforcement purposes. Next year her name will be included with the others.

“The role is primarily focused on wildfire prevention and compliance with the Forest and Prairie Protection Act and its regulations,” Potter says.

She also educates residents and landowners about safe burning practices without duplicating existing services.

“It is important to understand that a fire guardian is not replacing the local fire department or Alberta Wildfire. The various agencies have different roles and authorities, and the intention is to work together to prevent fires before they become emergencies,” Potter says.

She has not issued any tickets for fire-related offences since her appointment. Her approach will be education and voluntary compliance first, with enforcement available when legislation is deliberately or repeatedly disregarded.

Potter will also work with the local fire department and other fire guardians to provide residents with consistent information.

What it means for landowners

Any open fire within the town or the MD requires a permit, and permit holders must follow the conditions listed on their permits, which can include limits on wind speed, weather conditions and the materials burned.

“There is no unpermitted burning allowed in the town or the MD, whether it be a recreational fire pit or a debris burn,” Neumann says.

Potter says residents should first determine whether a permit is required, check current fire danger and review any restrictions or bans before burning.

“A fire permit is not simply permission to light a fire, it’s part of a broader wildfire prevention system,” she says. “The purpose is to make sure burns are conducted safely and that authorities know where approved burning is taking place.”

Conditions can change quickly and it’s up to permit holders to stay current on restrictions, even after a permit is issued. One issued today does not necessarily mean a resident can burn several days later if conditions have changed.

“People need to pay attention and watch albertafirebans.ca for the most up-to-date restrictions and possible bans that may be in place before they light a fire,” Neumann says.

Landowners are also responsible for monitoring a fire until it is completely out, and for any costs if a controlled burn escapes and the fire department has to respond.

“The onus is on the landowner to make sure they’re following safe burning practices,” he says.

The fire department reviews proposed burns before issuing permits. For debris burns, applicants provide photographs showing all sides of the proposed burn area. For larger burns, fire department personnel may visit the site to assess the conditions.

Residents with questions can contact Pincher Creek Emergency Services. Permits can be obtained online through the PCES website or in person at the fire hall.