Fire Season – Directive 060
In this bulletin, issued on April 26, 2022, the AER noted that the wildfire season in Alberta is from March 1 to October 31. Since the oil and gas industry is susceptible to fire across all regions of the province, with most industry-related fires occurring from April to June, licensees were reminded that the risk of brush and grass fires increases significantly during the wildfire season.
The AER reminded licensees that proactive fire control measures should be in place, including acquiring and maintaining fire suppression equipment and having an emergency response plan that includes wildfire prevention and preparedness and response. Emergency planning must address FireSmart and fire prevention issues. Approved burn and brush piles should be separated to verify they are fully extinguished.
As oil and gas facility flare systems are a fire ignition source due to carbon buildup, the AER reminded operators to adhere to a preventive maintenance schedule for flare stacks and to AER Directive 060: Upstream Petroleum Industry Flaring, Incinerating, and Venting and Alberta’s Forest and Prairie Protection Act.
