Annual restrictions on burning activities will go into effect as of March 1.

A permit will be required for all planned fires in the province's Forest Protection Area, with the exception of campfires.

One of the recommendations of the Flat Top Wildfire Complex review that followed the 2011 Slave Lake area wildfires was accelerating wildfire season preparations.

Last year 1,786 fires scorched 492,000 hectares, more than twice the 25 year average.

Wildfire crew members and leaders will start training at Alberta Agriculture and Forestry’s training centre in Hinton beginning next month.

Fire permits are free and can be requested at any Agriculture and Forestry office.

To report a wildfire, call 310-FIRE (3473).

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