Clearwater County Highway Patrol

Please be advised that the wildfire danger rating for the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area is VERY HIGH. A fire restriction is now in place for portions of the ...Rocky Mountain House Forest Area. The restriction applies to the east border of Jasper National Park and extends west to Hwy 734 (Forestry Trunk Road). Under a restriction: Prohibited - Wood campfires on public lands, including backcountry or random camping areas - Fireworks and exploding targets (without written permission of a Forest Officer) Allowed - Safe wood campfires on private land and provincial campgrounds - Should be within a metal, brick, or rock fire ring. They are required to - Be on rock, gravel, sand, or another non-combustible surface that extends at least one metre around the fire - Have a responsible person in attendance to keep fire under control at all times and extinguish before leaving - Have on hand enough water on site to extinguish the fire. Safe wood campfires on private lands include private land campgrounds and private land recreation areas. Municipalities, parks and protected areas may have additional fire safety requirements. - Portable propane fire pits - Gas or propane stoves and barbecues designed for cooking - Indoor wood fire - Open flame oil devices *All appliances (such as barbecues, stoves, heaters and portable campfires) must be CSA approved or UL certified. The restriction will remain in place until conditions improve. Off-highway vehicles can start wildfires - check frequently to ensure hotspots are free of debris, and make sure mufflers and spark arrestors are working properly. Never leave a campfire unattended. Soak it, stir it and soak it again to ensure it is extinguished. Please visit www.AlbertaFireBans.ca for a map of the affected area. For more information, please contact 1-866-394-3473.

An Alberta RCMP Traffic member was conducting traffic enforcement on Highway 11 west of #RockyMountainHouse, when he came across a vehicle parked on the side of... the road. What caught his attention was that the drivers side back seat door was open, and a pair of legs were dangling out. Concerned, the officer stopped to see if everyone was okay. A computer inquiry revealed the vehicle was stolen out of Edmonton three days earlier. The officer cautiously approached the vehicle and observed two males sound asleep inside the vehicle. The officer quietly opened the front passenger door and secured the keys of the stolen vehicle. While awaiting backup, the male in the driver’s seat started to wake up. The officer arrested the driver and secured him in his police vehicle. Shortly after, backup arrived the rear seat passenger was woken up and also arrested. The driver, a 25-year-old male was charged with Possession of Stolen Property over $5000 and with Possession of Stolen Property Under $5000, as the licence plate had been stolen off a different vehicle. The passenger, a 24-year-old male was also charged with the same two Criminal Code offences. He was also found to have seven outstanding criminal code warrants and was held in custody for a Judicial Interim Release Hearing at a later date.

FIRE BAN IN SOUTH WESTERN REGION OF CLEARWATER COUNTY Please be advised there is a provincial fire ban in a limited area in the south western region of Clearwat...er County within the Calgary Forest Area south of the Red Deer River. For a map of the affected area, please visit www.albertafirebans.ca. In response to extended drying conditions and no precipitation in the forecast, a fire ban is now in place for the northern portion of the Calgary Forest Area. Prohibited - Outdoor wood fires - Backyard firepits - Barbecues with charcoal briquettes - Fireworks and exploding targets - All fire permits are suspended or cancelled. Allowed - Propane / natural gas powered appliances - Open flame CSA approved oil devices - Indoor wood fires ** All devices must be CSA approved and used as per manufacturer standards. Users are still responsible for care and attendance of all devices and should reduce their use during fire restrictions and bans. Approved activities or devices will not prevent potential prosecution or litigation if the user or device starts a wildfire. Alberta Agriculture and Forestry will be monitoring conditions. The fire ban will remain in effect until conditions improve. For more information, please visit www.albertafirebans.ca or call 1-866-394-3473.

CLEARWATER COUNTY STATEMENT ON AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT (Rocky Mountain House, Alta.) Clearwater County is deeply saddened by the loss of pilot Ken Fowler and passen...ger Hannelie Eder on Saturday, September 26, as the result of an aircraft accident. Mr. Ken Fowler served as the Manager of the Rocky Mountain House Airport for the last 22 years and was a beloved member of the local flying community. Ken’s fervent belief in public service and commitment to aerobatics in western Alberta will be greatly missed, said Reeve Timothy Hoven. There are few communities that are fortunate enough to have benefitted from the hard work, dedication and expertise that Ken brought to his role every day. Mr. Fowler was a passionate aviator who co-founded Team Rocket Aerobatics, which is among the most highly regarded airshow routines in North America. Under the leadership of Mr. Fowler, the Rocky Mountain House Airport became a thriving aviation hub that will continue to grow in his absence for generations to come. Ms. Hannelie Eder served as an employee for the Town of Rocky Mountain House and was a skilled pilot and active member of the local flying community. With a background in specialized policing, Ms. Eder took great pride in providing safety and security to the communities in which she served. Clearwater County would like to extend its sincere condolences to the families of Mr. Fowler and Ms. Eder. To view the full news release: https://clearwater.municipalwebsites.ca//News_Release-Clea -30- Media Inquiries: Clearwater County Communications [email protected]

October is Pedestrian awareness Month

A virtual conference with some amazing presentations... Please mark your calendars !

With school starting across the Province for the first time in six months please help us keep your children safe, Reduced speeds in school/playground zones are in effect. Do not pass school buses when lights flashing.

If you’re heading out to explore on an OHV, make sure to follow these rules: Wear a helmet. Read about the helmet rules & regulations here: https://www.alber...ta.ca/off-highway-vehicle-helmet-law.aspx Make sure you have a licence plate, headlights, tail lights, mufflers, and spark arrester. Only cross waterbodies on designated trails and crossings. Drivers must be at least 14 years old or closely supervised by adults over 18 years old. Obey all posted signs and notices such as speed limits, permitted areas, designated trails, etc. Rules can vary by area. #KnowB4UGo and look up any specific rules for the area you are visiting. Rules differ on public roads make sure OHVs are permitted before driving along a road. See more

FIRE ADVISORY: Please be advised that due to forecasted hot and dry weather conditions, a Fire Advisory is now in effect for Clearwater County and the Forest Pr...otection Area (FPA). - Safe campfires are allowed. - Existing fire permits remain valid. - Fire permits will be issued on a case-by-case basis. - Permits for fireworks and exploding targets will not be issued. Off-highway vehicles can start wildfires - check frequently to ensure hotspots are free of debris, and make sure mufflers and spark arrestors are working properly. Never leave a campfire unattended. Soak it, stir it and soak it again to ensure it is extinguished. The Fire Advisory will remain in effect until conditions improve. For updates, please visit https://www.albertafirebans.ca

We’ve seen an increase in the improper disposal of garbage and improper securing of food by some visitors. Leaving out food and garbage creates food-conditioned... bears and other wildlife, and this can lead to serious incidents with people. A fed bear can lead to a dead bear. Please do your part to help us keep Alberta’s wildlife wild. What can you do? Never leave food or attractants unsecured or unattended, not even for a few minutes. They must be stored inside your vehicle or hard sided structure. This includes garbage, recycling, pet food and coolers. Do not leave food waste in fire pits. Leave no trace. Please dispose of your waste in the appropriate garbage/recycling bins or pack out your waste in your vehicle and take it with you when you leave. What is Alberta Parks doing to help? We’ve put signs on picnic tables, outhouses and kiosks and staff are sharing safety messages with visitors. We have electronic signage on the highways asking Albertans to be bear smart and secure attractants. Failure to properly secure food can result in fines. While Alberta Parks staff empty garbage bins as much as possible, we are not always able to be there when they are full. If a bin is full, please protect wildlife and pack out your own waste. If you notice full garbage bins in the Kananaskis region, please report them to Alberta Parks Kananaskis Dispatch to take action at 403-591-7755.

If you're heading out this weekend, have an enjoyable time and make sure you leave the land better than you found it. There have been recent incidents that do n...ot reflect the behaviour we expect; therefore, I am taking extra measures to keep you and your family safe and to protect our landscapes. See more