Lethbridge County

🔥 Fire Restriction Lifted in Lethbridge County 🔥

Effective Monday, June 1, the Fire Restriction in Lethbridge County has been lifted.

Recent precipitation and cooler temperatures have reduced the fire risk across the region, allowing previously restricted activities to resume.

The following are now permitted under the County's Fire Bylaw:

✅ Controlled burns (permit required)
✅ Fireworks (permit required)
✅ Recreational campfires in approved fire pits
✅ Burn barrels and incinerators with spark arrestors
✅ Charcoal briquette barbecues
✅ CSA/ULC-approved gas or propane heaters, stoves and barbecues
✅ Wood pellet grills
✅ CSA/ULC-approved gas or propane fire pits and fire rings

Lethbridge County uses a data-driven approach to determine fire status changes. We regularly monitor weather forecasts, wind conditions and vegetation moisture levels, while consulting with regional fire chiefs to assess fire risk.

As conditions can change quickly, residents are reminded that a Fire Restriction or Fire Ban may be implemented again if warmer temperatures, dry conditions and strong winds increase the risk of wildfire.

Stay informed by:
🌐 Visiting lethcounty.ca/p/fire-bans
📱 Following Lethbridge County on social media
📧 Signing up for the County Insider e-newsletter

Thank you for continuing to use caution and help keep our communities safe. 🚒

We've got rain, and more on the way. This can mean pooling on roads, drainage issues, etc.

For road issues, please call our Operations team at 403.328.5525 (then press "2"). Be ready to share details on the concerns, the Range Road and/or Township Road and the next one it's closest to. The more specific you are, the better we can assist and ensure the right crews are dispatched.

Drive safe, please. Don't cross areas with large amounts of pooling or that may be washed out. Call us to report these spots when you see them.

If you’re planning to apply for fall dust suppression, now’s the time.

📝 Fall intake runs June 1 until July 12 at 11:59 p.m. (Application and payment must be received by that time.)

A quick reminder:
✔ Dust suppression is optional and application-based
✔ Weather, traffic, and equipment all impact effectiveness
✔ Dust can’t be eliminated—only reduced
✔ The County continues to treat some intersections and Haul Routes

Apply online:
🔗 lethcounty.ca/p/dust-suppression

Need assistance? Call 403.328.5525 or visit our office.

Significant rainfall and strong winds are expected this weekend. ⛈
A little preparation now can help prevent bigger issues later.

On your property:
• Move downspouts away from foundations
• Clear gutters and eavestroughs
• Secure outdoor items
• Check culverts and ditches for blockages
• Watch for water in basements or low areas
• Check your sump pump regularly

On roads:
• Slow down and watch for pooling
• Never drive through washed-out roads
• Report concerns: 403.328.5525

In coulees & low-lying areas:
• Use extreme caution — water levels can rise quickly
• Check river conditions: rivers.alberta.ca

Stay connected:
• Check in on neighbours
• Download the Alberta Emergency Alert app

As for the Fire Restriction, we’ll assess early next week. When conditions are as hot & dry as we've had, heavy rain doesn't always soak in and reduce the fire risk. Stay updated at lethcounty.ca, follow us here, or sign up for County Insider emails on our website.

Have a safe weekend!

Seasonal road bans are lifted as of May 29 (today)!

Head to the Road Ban page on our website for specifics on impacted roads.

👉https://lethcounty.ca/road-ban

Bans were implemented in March, as they are each spring when the frost begins to come out of the ground. The warmer weather and frost thaw makes the roads more susceptible to damage from heavy equipment, which is costly to repair and impacts all taxpayers.

The County’s Infrastructure and Operations departments have been closely monitoring our road network over the past two months to determine when conditions are right to lift the bans.

Alberta Transportation manages provincial highways, and also issues bans on those roads. A list of highway bans is available on the provincial website.

Thank you to road users for your cooperation this spring in adhering to road bans and protecting our valuable transportation system so everyone can travel safely.

Roadside w**d spraying is underway across Lethbridge County to help control noxious w**ds and protect nearby farmland.

If you do not want spraying next to your property, you must submit a No Spray Agreement every year—even if your sign is already posted. Our crews build routes based on current applications, so without a renewed agreement, we cannot guarantee your property will be skipped.

By signing a No Spray Agreement, you agree to manage w**ds along the roadside adjacent to your property. We provide the “No Spray Zone” signs at no cost.

Spraying is one part of our integrated w**d control program, alongside mowing and hand pulling where appropriate. Applicators use low-drift nozzles and monitor wind conditions closely to reduce off-target spraying.

Learn more or apply today by visiting our website (https://lethcounty.ca/p/no-spray-agreements)or contacting Agriculture Services at 403.732.5333.

We've got three public hearings coming up at the June 18 Council Meeting. Public hearings start at 10 a.m.

Bylaw 26-003 considers rezoning to accommodate an event centre in Division 3, southwest of Coaldale.

Bylaw 26-009's intent is to rezone a parcel from commercial to residential in Turin (Division 7).

Bylaw 26-014 is about a proposed road closure in Division 4, northeast of Coalhurst.

Head to our website for maps and details: https://lethcounty.ca/p/public-hearings

Two weeks of systematic and dedicated work mean that spring dust suppression is officially complete! (And in record time.) 🎉

Wondering about intersections? Select intersections and roads will receive general dust suppression in August during the fall application.

Oh, and intake for the fall application starts June 1!

Thank you to crews and team members who made this possible, both out on the roads and behind the scenes.

https://lethcounty.ca/p/dust-suppression

How's your art coming along? There's still time for your child to enter the emergency preparedness colouring contest! Details below. 👇