Fire season started a month early this year, on March 1. Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Oneil Carlier says it's important to do everything we can to avoid wildfires.

"Unfortunately, we've seen a trend over the past few years that more than two thirds of the wildfires in Alberta are caused by people. So, making people aware of that, making sure that they do their part by putting out their campfires, if their burning a bush that they've cleared for industry or for agriculture making sure that they have a permit in place."

Carlier says fire permits are free of charge and can be obtained by contacting the Agriculture and Forestry Offices or visit wildfire.alberta.ca. He says it's important to be careful of fire hazards especially if you're out with an ATV.

"Making sure if they're out on the landscape with a recreational vehicle, an all-terrain-vehicle perhaps, that they check periodically to make sure that there is no trash, no dry leaves around the hot parts of the engine so that doesn't cause wildfires. You know, do all we can to prevent those wildfires, expecially the ones caused by humans."

Carlier says last year was one of the biggest wildfire seasons in 25 years, largely because it was so dry. He says they want to be prepared this season in case it's dry as well.

"We have declared that the fire season is starting a month early, which is March 1, so that allows our crews to start their recruiting, their trainging, getting their equipment ready to go to be prepared in anticipation of what could possibly be another dry season."

Carlier says this season will hinge on how much rain we get in the spring.