The Town of Strathmore will be receiving $1.09 million to help battle wildfires across the province.
On Friday, May 23, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services Mike Ellis met with Strathmore Mayor Pat Fule and Chestermere-Strathmore MLA Chantelle de Jonge at the Strathmore Fire Department to make the announcement.
"Amid unprecedented wildfire challenges in recent years, the importance of being proactive, being prepared, and ready to respond is crucial," said Ellis. "That's why I'm pleased to announce today that Alberta's government is providing close to $7 million to expand the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) teams across Alberta."
The WUI program targets zones where homes, farms, and industrial sites border natural vegetation. The funding will help coordinate firefighters who have specialized training and equipment for both wildland and structure fires.
The province will be providing coordination and funding for the program, while local fire departments contribute personnel, firefighting equipment, and resources.
"These teams will be vital in preventing fires from entering populated areas and ensuring rapid and effective action where needed," said de Jonge. "This is exciting news for Strathmore, now home to one of the provinces six new WUI teams."
Other localities receiving $1.09 million in funding include:
- Town of Hinton
- Town of Slave Lake
- Lac La Biche County
- Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council
- Kananaskis Improvement District
"I think we all know that the wildfire situation in the province has gotten much stronger much earlier, and this program will be amazing to help our community, but our community can also reach out and support other communities in times of trouble," said Mayor Pat Fule.
"In 2023 our firefighters deployed across northern Alberta and the Northwest Territories. Last summer they went to Jasper and helped there, so our fire department stands ready."
The $1.09 million in Strathmore will be provided over the course of two to three years, with funding provided by the Alberta Emergency Management Agency.