-The fire ban that had been in place in Edmonton for the past month was lifted earlier this morning, as the Fire Department says the city has finally had enough moisture to allow the use of backyard firepits and barbecues, cooking stoves and smokers that use wood and briquettes.
Officials do say those fire pits have to abide by all the city’s bylaw requirements.
Fireworks are also being allowed.
But if the weather takes a turn for the drier and windier, restrictions could be reinstated.

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-the Morinville Fire Department has lifted the fire ban in that community and moved to a “fire restriction”.
It allows the use of approved backyard fire-pits, smokers and other solid fuel appliances.
Fireworks are NOT allowed, and everyone is asked to keep checking Alberta Fire Bans for the most up-to-date information.

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-Hundreds of people were evacuated from the Fort Chipewyan region yesterday because of a massive wildfire.
It was set off Sunday by a lightning strike, and by yesterday afternoon, it had grown to 86-hundred hectares.
There’s no road access to the Fort Chipewyan area, so residents were being moved out by plane and boat.
Josee St. Onge with Alberta Wildfire says there are 66 wildfires burning in the province right now.

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-We’re going to be getting our usual update from Alberta Wildfire a bit later this afternoon, but a new group of firefighters was welcomed to the province this morning, as crews from New Brunswick, Australia and Canadian military got here.
They’ll be replacing others who been on the line and now get to go home.

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-Over in Nova Scotia, officials are highly concerned that a “crossover” could cause two major wildfires burning in that province to get even worse than they already are.
Crossover is what happens when temperatures rise above 30, the humidity drops below 30-percent and wind speeds are faster than 30km an hour.
At this point, at least 21-thousand people are out of their homes because of the fires in northwest Halifax and Shelburne County in the southwest part of the province.
At least 1-hundred American firefighters are heading to Nova Scotia this weekend to help, while 2-hundred from South Africa will be coming to Alberta.

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-Some technical issues for the Royal Bank today, as their online and mobile banking service has been having problems.
Officials say it’s an issue with the digital display of transactions, and they’re hoping to have it resolved as quickly as possible.

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-They aren’t the only ones with technical problems today, as Air Canada is having more issues with their flight communications system.
This is what they use to keep an eye on flights and to communicate with the flight crews.
And just like last week, they’re referring to it as a “temporary technical problem.”
It’s causing flight delays across the country, so be sure to check ahead on your flight status if you’re heading somewhere.

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-Some regions of central Alberta were hit with a wicked storm yesterday afternoon and evening.
A tornado touched down in some fields northeast of Stettler.
And there was large hail in a number of region, ranging in size from peas to bigger than golf-balls.
The Millet Fire Department says some trees were knocked down in their region, and as a result, powerlines were snagged.

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-Not many details yet, but the Transportation Safety Board is sending a team of investigators to Calgary, following engine failure and fire onboard a WestJet-Encore plane this week.
Officials say there were two flight crew members and two flight attendants onboard at the time, but no one was hurt.   The board hasn’t said if the plane was in the air when it happened.

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-Seventeen school-kids and one adult were hurt yesterday when part of a wooden platform they were on at Fort Gibraltar in Winnipeg collapsed.
All the kids were between the ages of 10 and 11, and some wound up with broken bones in the 20-foot drop.
They said they heard a “cracking noise” just before the platform crumbled.
The tourist attraction is closed until further notice.

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-It’s going to be some time yet before the E-R at the Consort Hospital and Care Centre is open again.
A big shortage of nurses has led to it being shut down til at least July 5th.
Alberta Health Services says they’re working to recruit more nurses so they can get it re-opened sooner.

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-The head of the Metis National Council is calling on the federal government to introduce and pass “self government” legislation this spring.
The Council is meeting with the Prime Minister and other cabinet ministers, along with Metis leaders from Alberta, BC and Ontario.
Cassidy Caron says they’re looking forward to self government as soon as possible.

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-The A & W on 111th Avenue and 149th Street in Edmonton has been recognized as the “finest A & W” across Canada in 2022.
Officials say the President Award isn’t easy to win, because you have to beat out almost 11-hundred restaurants in the chain, right across the country.
The winner is determined through outstanding business performance, operations and guest service.

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