Wildfire risk rising in southern Alberta [Video]

LETHBRIDGE –

Alberta and most of the country have had relatively few fires to start the fire season, thanks to cooler temperatures and moisture.

“There are now 69 active wildfires burning. To date, 500,000 hectares have burnt. The good news is in spite of the situation, the number of fires is well below the average of this time of the year,” said federal Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan.

But higher temperatures and high winds have many concerned more wildfires are on the way.

The Calgary Forest Area has already upgraded its fire risk to high.

“The Calgary Forest Area did receive a little bit of precipitation but it was localized and most of the area hasn’t received a lot of precipitation,” said Alberta Wildfire Service information officer Kai Bowering.

The Calgary Forest Area straddles the border with B.C., north past Banff and all the way south near Waterton.

In it, there are …