| | | Everybody needs to have their act together this year.
Alberta fire chiefs call for provincial strategy as wildfire season looms
Published Jan 31, 2024 • Last updated 22 hours ago • 3 minute read
 A crew from South Africa assists in fighting a wildfire near Edson earlier this summer. Photo by Alberta Wildfire
Alberta fire chiefs are calling for the province to “urgently” release its wildfire strategy ahead of the official start of the season on March 1.
In an open letter published Wednesday, the Alberta Fire Chiefs Association (AFCA) warned that a dry winter could spark events as devastating as last year’s. In 2023, an unprecedented 2.2 million hectares burned across the province after unusually hot, dry and windy conditions in the spring.
“There is a growing concern among fire chiefs across the province of the lack of communication of what the plan is, allocation of funds compared to previous years and plan for the recruitment and deployment of firefighters and equipment,” the letter said.
Association president Randy Schroeder, chief of Lac Ste. Anne County Fire Services, told Postmedia Wednesday last year’s response saw agencies work together, but overall, it was too reactionary.
“Last spring, the province was unprepared, they didn’t have their staffing even deployed,” said Schroeder.
The AFCA has met with government officials, calling for additional resources, increased training capacity, equipment and a provincial fire services advisory committee. Schroeder said the government has acknowledged the AFCA’s asks, but hasn’t made specific commitments.
“We’re all seeing the season looming, and we want meaningful measures in place to ensure that we have response readiness dealt with, and everyone at the table collaborating and strategizing to ensure that our response can be more efficient, because lives and properties are at risk,” he said.
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The letter stressed that the strategy needs to involve all levels of government, and that it’s not sustainable to rely on municipalities to financially backstop the fire response.
“It’s not just fire chiefs — it’s local governments asking these questions as well,” said Schroeder.
Forestry and Parks Minister Todd Loewen’s office declined an interview request with Postmedia, citing availability.
In a statement, Loewen said the government is taking every measure possible to prepare for, prevent and mitigate the impacts of wildfires.
“The development of a provincial wildfire mitigation strategy is well underway, and this strategy will be consistent with the National Wildfire Prevention and Mitigation Strategy currently being finalized by the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers,” he wrote, adding that more resources are going into night operations, getting more aircraft, Firetak crews and heavy-equipment operators.
Loewen said Alberta will be ready to respond earlier in the season, although he didn’t provide a specific date.
“Recruitment and training are already underway, with Alberta receiving a record number of applicants for wildland firefighter positions ahead of the 2024 wildfire season.”
Loewen pointed to the province’s Community Fireguard Program, launched last fall to help at-risk communities prevent and mitigate wildfire impacts, and encouraged Albertans to learn more about FireSmart principles.
Schroeder argued that the FireSmart program is proven to reduce wildfire impacts, and should be expanded and better funded. In 2022-23, it provided $2.3 million to local community projects.
‘This cannot happen again’: NDPHeather Sweet, Opposition NDP agriculture, forestry and rural economic development critic, echoed the call for the UCP government to release a wildfire preparedness strategy.
“Last year, we were not properly prepared for the wildfires we saw until many were burning out of control. This cannot happen again,” said Sweet in a Wednesday statement.
She also called for the UCP to hire year-round firefighters, and for a task force to provide regular public updates beginning in February.
According to the province’s online wildfire status dashboard, there are 56 active fires across the province |
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