Photo credit: Provincial wildfire information office.

By The Canadian Press

wildfires

Alberta fire chiefs worried about wildfire season, write open letter to provicnial government

Jan 31, 2024 | 5:05 PM

EDMONTON – Alberta’s fire chiefs are “urgently” asking the provincial government to explain how it’s getting ready for the upcoming wildfire season and to release its preparedness strategy.

In an open letter to the province’s United Conservative Party government, the chiefs say relying on towns and cities to backstop wildfire response isn’t sustainable.

They say they’ve asked for more training capacity and equipment, as well as for a committee to help develop a provincial strategy to deal with the growing wildfire threat.

The chiefs say they don’t know what the plan is, what the budgets will be like or how firefighters will be recruited and deployed.

They say it’s crucial to have a clear, well-resourced and collaborative strategy before the fire season begins.

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Alberta suffered an unprecedented wildfire season last year, with more than 2.5 million hectares of forest burned.

Heather Sweet, Alberta NDP Critic for Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development, issued the following statement in response:

“In just over four weeks, wildfire season officially begins in Alberta and the UCP Government has failed to deliver an action plan that addresses the significant concerns of the Alberta Fire Chiefs Association (AFCA) about what lies ahead beginning March 1.

“Alberta endured an unprecedented wildfire season last year that claimed a staggering 2.2-million hectares. We know that this wildfire season has the potential to be a repeat of last season, if not worse, with the lack of rain and snow we’ve had this year creating dangerously dry conditions throughout the province.

“My colleague Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse, and I, wrote a letter earlier this month to the Minister of Forestry and Parks calling for the immediate establishment of a joint wildfire task force that will include representatives from the provincial government, municipal governments and firefighter unions.

“And we called for this task force to begin providing regular updates to Albertans in February, before fire season begins, on the proactive work that is being done to limit the damage and risk of wildfires. We also requested a seat on this task force as we are accountable to our constituents and stakeholders.

“We must immediately begin emergency training of more provincial and municipal firefighters. Last year, we were not properly prepared for the wildfires we saw until many were burning out of control. This cannot happen again.

“The UCP Government must also collaborate with the federal emergency management committee to create a federal fire fighting task force; collaborating with all orders of governments, civil society and Indigenous communities.

“It is January 30 and there are currently 58 wildfires burning in our province. Wildfire season officially starts March 1, and yet the UCP Government has not hired enough staff to fill all of the vacant wildfire fighting positions. The Alberta NDP is calling for the UCP to provide year-round wildfire firefighters to ensure boots are on the ground, and we are ready for the March 1st wildfire season start date.

“The UCP Government must immediately disclose their wildfire preparedness strategy and do everything in its power to protect Albertans, their businesses and keep our communities safe.”

(The Canadian Press)

(With files from rdnewsNOW)