Edmonton Fire and Rescue Services responded to two brush fires in the Mill Creek Ravine area Tuesday afternoon.

People working downtown — in the ATB Tower, MacEwan University’s Alberta College Campus and the Marriott Courtyard Hotel — reported seeing flames spreading quickly. Others reported smoke near the Old Timers Cabin.

EFRS was notified about a grass fire at 3:06 p.m. and crews had it under control by 3:28 p.m.

However, EFRS then started receiving calls about a second fire a half kilometre away, also in the ravine. Four units are responding.

Alberta has been hot, dry and windy as of late. Smoke from the wildfire burning in northern Alberta near High Level is blowing south, lessening air quality. Edmonton and Calgary had an Air Quality Health Index of 4 on Tuesday (moderate), while it was 9 (high risk) further north.

Edmonton enacted its own fire restriction Monday, banning open burning and fireworks. Open burning includes any controlled burns that are​ subject to conditions set in an open burning ​fire ​permit.

The restriction comes as the city’s fire weather index sits at the extreme level, the City of Edmonton said in a media release Monday.

A grass fire in Mill Creek Ravine in Edmonton on May 28, 2019.

A grass fire in Mill Creek Ravine in Edmonton on May 28, 2019.

A grass fire in Mill Creek Ravine in Edmonton on May 28, 2019.

— More to come…

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