3 charged in northern Alberta for setting off fireworks during fire ban

Fort Chipewyan RCMP says three people have been charged after setting off fireworks during a fire ban. 

Police said in a news release Monday that officers received multiple reports of fireworks being set off within the northeastern Alberta community on June 1. 

The three were handed violation notices under the Forest and Prairie Protection Regulations. The accused will either have to pay a $600 fine, or take the case to the Alberta Court of Justice next month, police said. 

The charges come as most of Alberta is under a fire ban, which prohibits lighting outdoor fires, including campfires, bonfires, or fireworks. 

Parts of central Alberta, including the greater Edmonton area, are experiencing poor air quality, as several out-of-control wildfires burn along the Alberta-B.C. border. There are 65 active wildfires in the province, according to the Alberta Wildfire dashboard.

Some residents in northern Alberta are under a mandatory evacuation order, while several other communities have residents being told to prepare to evacuate on short notice. 

Environment Canada has issued special air quality statements and air quality warnings for much of northern Alberta.