Minister of Forestry and Parks Todd Loewen. Photo courtesy Alberta government.

By Erika Rolling

Provincial

$14 million added to budget for wildfire preparedness

Apr 29, 2024 | 12:09 PM

Two additional air tankers and two-night vision-equipped helicopters are being added to the province’s list of equipment to be prepared for wildfire season 2024.

These pieces of equipment are contracted out. Alberta now has three-night vision helicopters on hand.

As wildfire behaviour is usually subdued at nighttime with lower temperatures and higher humidity, Minister of Forestry and Parks Todd Loewen says the two additional helicopters will help with overnight operations.

“These investments will result in significant improvement for out wildfire operations, allowing us to better protect Alberta’s communities and forests from the impacts of wildfire.”

An additional $14 million will be going to the Community Fireguard Program administered by the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta. The program is in place for communities so they can clear areas to make fire breaks by cutting off fuel sources that could potentially drive towards infrastructure, properties, or other values at risk. There is now $19 million in place for the Community Fireguard Program.

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This year there will be over 1,000 wildland firefighters ready to battle blazes. Loewen says this is considered fully staffed after adding 100 additional “boots on the ground” for this season.

“We’re ahead of staffing numbers from last year and we should have everyone through the training by May 15.”

Loewen urges caution to Albertans to keep up to date with fire bans and wildfire danger rating levels in their area.

“So far in 2024, nearly all wildfires burning on our landscape have been human caused. As we head further into this wildfire season, please don’t be that person.”

The province notes over the past five years, 67 per cent of wildfires have been human-caused.

You can stay up to date with the wildfire situation in Alberta by using:

• Alberta Wildfire on your mobile device or desktop
• Alberta Fire Bans app or website
• Alberta Wildfire Status Dashboard
• Alberta Emergency Alert app or website