By Sheena Roszell

GPREP and province team up to practice for wildfire emergency

Feb 27, 2018 | 3:47 PM

If disaster strikes, it’s best to be prepared.  So, this week, the Grande Prairie Regional Emergency Partnership and the province are teaming up to practice what to do if there is a wildfire emergency. 

“That is part of being prepared,” said Jennifer Wood, Program Coordinator for G-PREP.  “And if we don’t think about how we would respond to it, then we are not going to be as successful as we could be if we ever had to respond to (a wildfire emergency.)”

The province does this every year and this year’s scenario is a forest wildfire that moves quickly through rural communities to a large urban centre.

“The province came up with the scenario of a wildfire and absolutely, after Fort McMurray, it’s important for all of us to think about the what-ifs and this is certainly relevant for parts of our region,” she said.

Wood says the training and practice will make them stronger and more prepared as a community.

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The public won’t notice any lights or sirens.  Wood says there won’t be any resources sent out, they’ll just be talking through different situations.

Representatives from all levels of government, emergency management agencies, industry and the six communities of GPREP; the City of Grande Prairie, County of Grande Prairie, Beaverlodge, Sexsmith, Wembley and Hythe, will working together this week to review and practise the emergency-response plans.