The Okotoks Fire Department responded to 16 calls this past week.

Making the list was a fire pit complaint.

Ken Thevenot, Okotoks Fire Chief, says there's a couple tips residents should keep in mind with their backyard fires.

"Watch if it's a really windy day, make sure the type of wood you're burning is dry and seasoned, make sure there's proper clearance around from fences and other structures, garages, decks, that sort of thing."

He adds it's also important to be mindful of smoke travelling into neighbours' yards and windows.

Aside from the fire pit complaint the department also responded to two alarm system activations, seven medical responses, two public hazard responses, and four motor vehicle collisions.

Thevenot says they've also been working on their water rescue training and have noticed the river is moving quickly.

"Just a reminder to people if they're going to start using the river just to be extra cautious because the river is ever changing on us," he says. "It comes up a little bit everyday just until we get that final melt of the snow pack done with and hopefully everything goes according to plan where there's no incidents with that, no high water events."

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