The wildfire danger in the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area is rated very high.

Winds are expected to gust up to 50 kilometres an hour through much of Monday afternoon, increasing the risk of wildfire spread.

Anyone spending time outdoors is being reminded to use extra caution with campfires, never leave a fire unattended and make sure it’s fully extinguished before leaving.

Officials say cooler temperatures and even frost or light snow don’t guarantee a fire is out, as fires can smoulder underground and reignite later.

To help prevent human-caused wildfires, residents are urged to build fires on bare mineral soil away from dead or dry vegetation, keep water and tools nearby and never leave a fire unattended.

There are currently no active wildfires in the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area, which has responded to 72 wildfires since Jan. 1.

No fire bans or restrictions

Despite the elevated risk, there are currently no fire bans or restrictions in the Rocky Mountain House Forest Protection and Non-Forest Protection areas, or the town of Rocky Mountain House.

Residents can visit Alberta Fire Bans for fire restriction information around the province.