Calgary extends fire ban through weekend

Despite Thursday's snowfall, a fire ban remains in effect through the weekend, the Calgary fire department said.

Fire officials said Friday that lifting the ban, first issued on March 26, would be premature in light of warm weather forecast for the weekend.

The precipitation that fell on Thursday altogether about 23 centimetres of snow mainly hit the city of Calgary, so there's still concern about dry conditions in outlying communities, said spokesman Jeff Budai.

The ban, which will be re-evaluated next week, covers:

• Regulated fire pits.
• Regulated burning barrels.
• Charcoalbarbecues.
• Chimeneas.
• Fireworks or pyrotechnics.
• Incinerators, including for farm and acreage use.
• Fire contained within approved facilities and appliances in designated camping and recreational areas.

Fireplaces inside homes, camp stoves, fire pits and propane or natural gas barbecues are exempt from the ban.