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Photo by Chris Schwarz/Government of Alberta.
The provincial government is taking a three-step approach to tackle the threat of wildfires this year: prevention, mitigation, and readiness to respond.
In 2024, Alberta Wildfire responded to more than 1,210 wildfires with just over 705,000 hectares burned.
If Budget 2025 is passed, $160 million will be invested in base funding for wildfire personnel, equipment, training, and contracts for aircraft, an additional night vision-equipped helicopter, and heavy equipment.
This investment is vital to ensure Alberta’s wildland firefighting teams have the equipment, training, and personnel needed to respond to wildfire threats and mitigate the impacts wildfires have on Alberta’s communities.
“There is nothing more critical than protecting Albertans, our homes, and our communities from the effects of wildfires,” said Todd Loewen, Minister Forestry and Parks. “Alberta is home to some of the best firefighting personnel in the world and through Budget 2025, we are making a major investment in our wildfire teams and communities, giving them the tools, training, and support they need to prevent, mitigate, and respond quickly to any challenge that may come up this wildfire season.”
The Community Fireguard and FireSmart programs will ensure vulnerable communities in the Forest Protection Area have the tools needed to successfully mitigate the risks of wildfires.
Budget 2025 would also allocate an additional $15 million over three years to continue supporting projects administered by the Forest Improvement Association of Alberta (FRIAA), and another $10.8 million to ensure communities can easily access FireSmart resources.
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“Alberta’s wildfire team remains fully prepared and is ready for the 2025 wildfire season. Each year we improve our ability to meet the challenge ahead and the investments we make in people, resources, and new technology prove critical in our response efforts,” said Trevor Lamabe, executive director, Wildfire Management Branch.
This year, Alberta Wildfire is launching a pilot project using hoist-equipped helicopters.
The helicopters will enable rapid deployment of crews to remote, hard-to-reach areas and provide critical support for emergency evacuations if needed.
The results of the pilot will determine whether the program will be expanded and continue into 2026.
The first step in prevention efforts is stopping wildfires before they start. The provincial government is also continuing public awareness and education campaigns on safe practices, while enforcing fire bans when necessary to reduce human-caused wildfires.
**With information provided by the Government of Alberta
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