Published on May 14, 2025

Keep Safety in Mind Outside

The weather is warming, and the outdoor BBQ season is starting. It’s time to prepare our backyards for some spring and summer fun. As you start to tidy up it’s a good time to reduce fire hazards in your yard and learn how to properly extinguish your private fire pit.

7 Backyard Safety Tips

Move your wood pile away from your house, shed, fence, trees, fire pit or any combustible materials.
Make sure you use your fire pit for recreational purposes only. The City of St. Albert does not permit the burning of yard refuse or garbage in fire pits. Burn clean, dry wood only.
Rake up poplar fuzz from May through July, the fuzz can easily ignite if it catches a spark.
Inspect your BBQ gas grills, including gas hoses, gas grill lines and propane tanks before use.
To eliminate the chance of a fire spreading beyond your BBQ, position it away from your home.
Keep your yard free of debris throughout the year by raking leaves and picking up garbage.
Ensure cigarettes are completely out and do not extinguish them in planters. Most planters contain peat moss, which can smoulder, ignite and cause fires.

Person standing in front of a BBQ

Extinguish Your Fire Pit Safely

All wood-burned firepits must be permitted and used in compliance with the Fire Services Bylaw.
Wood burning firepits must always be used with a screen spark arrestor.
Firepits must be fully extinguished before leaving unattended.
Soak it. Stir it. Soak it again. Spread the embers within the fire pit, then add water and stir.
Expose any material still burning. Add more water and stir again until you can no longer see smoke or steam. Do not bury your fire as the embers may continue to smoulder.
Repeat until your firepit is cool to the touch.
If your fire is out, you should not be able to feel any heat from the ashes.

Discover more fire safety tips

Person tending to a fire pit

Fire Bans, Restrictions and Advisories

Before you enjoy an outdoor fire this season, make sure no fire bans, restrictions or advisories are in place in your community by visiting stalbert.ca/firebans. During hot, dry weather, fire advisories, restrictions and bans can be issued by the Province or by municipalities. The City of St. Albert’s fire bans, restrictions and advisories apply to all land within St. Albert city limits. Provincial fire bans and advisories apply to all Crown Land in Alberta. Each municipality is independent and determines whether its area is at a particular risk for fire. Fire advisories, restrictions and bans are declared and lifted by the Fire Chief or Fire Chief designate.

Learn more about what is allowed during a fire advisory, ban or restriction.

Find active fire advisories, restrictions, bans, forest closures, off-highway vehicle restrictions and what activities are allowed across Alberta at albertafirebans.ca and directly in St. Albert at stalbert.ca/firebans